SWIFTS are swirling overhead as, catching my breath in the Italian heat, I reach the sanctuary of Madonna della Costa, high on a hill above Sanremo, having navigated a hotch-potch of steep lanes.

My climb is rewarded with sweeping views across the town and of the shimmering Mediterranean beyond. Just an hour and a half by train from Nice, the year-round mild climate here has, since the 1800s, made this made this a popular destination for those seeking sun, sea and exceptional Ligurian cuisine.

‘La Pigna’ is the historic heart of this Italian Riviera resort, its name coming from the concentric arrangement of streets, resembling the scales of a pine cone.

Originally built to keep the locals safe and trap any invading pirates, intruders losing their way would soon find their route blocked inside its labyrinth of lanes.

Six-storey colourful facades are connected by supporting mid-air stone arches, so the whole structure doesn’t just come tumbling down. It was built between the 14th and 17th centuries to cope with an expanding population wanting to live within the heavily defended city walls. It’s like exploring a medieval New York, and my neck aches from looking up to marvel at the ingenuity of it all.

Just a short stroll away lies Via Giacomo Matteotti, Sanremo’s lively pedestrian boulevard – the heart of everyday life here. This is the main shopping street, and it’s also home to the Ariston Theatre, which has hosted an annual Song Festival in February since 1977 (if you’re a Eurovision fan, this could be the time to go, as the winning song becomes Italy’s next entry). I step inside the historic ‘Daphne’ boutique, a Pandora’s box of floral silk scarves and botanical perfumes, famously favoured by Grace Kelly. Inquiring about price is clearly not the thing to do here.

A few streets on, I happen across a delightful square where the town’s market is in full swing and the locals are haggling over everything from antiques and leather handbags to freshly caught squid.

La Pigna. Photo – Kay Frances

Choosing a café in front of the action, I order an espresso (having learned it’s a crime in Italy to have a cappuccino after breakfast) and try to blend in, though my shorts are giving my tourist identity away.

Watching the locals still wrapped up in their winter coats and mohair jumpers, I apply another layer of factor 50.

In Nice, where I landed a few days earlier, I blended in with the hordes of visitors; here, I’m standing out like a sore thumb – but in a good way. “The Ligurians dress for the seasons”, a friendly local tells me, not for the weather!”

I’ve come to Sanremo for a spring break to experience a taste of luxury on the Italian Riviera at the recently renovated 5-star Europa Palace Hotel – my stylish room has a balcony overlooking the Med. The building is one of Sanremo’s Belle Epoque luxury hotels from the 1800s.

Now with its contemporary spa and obligatory rooftop bar, the hotel is maxing out on its prime seafront location. The 30 million Euro renovation by the Lagorio family has kept the historic facades intact and is seen as one part of what is known as a Sanremo modern renaissance.

Now famous for its music festival and bustling flower market, the biggest in Italy, and known as ‘La Citta dei Fiori” – city of flowers – Sanremo was once the playground of the English aristocracy, Russian nobility, travelling artists, and stars of stage and screen. The city still boasts its iconic Belle Époque architecture and is now in the midst of a tourism revival, especially popular with the French who can hop over the border using the punctual (and very affordable) coastal rail line. But apart from the sea, sand, and history, it’s descriptions of the Ligurian cuisine that have lured me to this stretch of coastline.

La Pigna. Photo – Kay Frances

After my 6pm aperitivo on the hotel’s panoramic rooftop terrace (think contemporary architecture, modern furniture and an age-old olive tree), I join friends in the Rêve Bistrot. Entertained by local jazz musicians we challenge ourselves to whittle down our antipasti, primi, secondi, contorni, and dolce to just three courses. Chef Alessandro Schiavon’s menu choice is cruelly seductive, but the wine selection made easier by our charming sommelier (who, incidentally, also imparted the crash course on which coffee to order and when). A fresh white Vermentino gets my taste buds tingling, ready for the main event. Can I manage four courses I ponder?

I plump for cuttlefish and baby octopus stew, with panissa (a delicious Ligurian fried appetiser made with chickpea flour) and Swiss chard cream, skipping the first course to leave room for the main – fried calamari and prawns with seaweed and garlic mayonnaise – before moving my belt a notch to enjoy a decadent red wine pear ‘stroscia’ cake with zabaglione (a decadent regional variation on this classic Italian pudding made with whipped custard and sweet Moscato wine). Sleep comes easily as I drift off dreaming of the next day’s menu.

As well as being perfectly placed along the train line between France and Italy, there’s a scattering of pretty towns and villages to visit in the surrounding hills. Curious to see Monet’s bridge, which he painted after declaring it to be “a jewel of lightness”, we head to the small medieval village of Dolceacqua.

Colourful square in Sanremo. Photo by Kay Frances

Hanging onto the heels of our local guide to avoid getting lost in its maze of medieval streets, and stopping by artisan makers of organic wines, soaps and perfumes, we reach the 12th-century castle and its keep, just as church bells ring out across the lush Nervia valley below.

Back at the winding seafront in Sanremo, there’s just time to build up an appetite for dinner. Taking bicycles from the hotel, we ride along the palm fringed coastline, a dedicated cycle route offering 33km of easy riding, passing beaches and pretty seaside villages. Lying directly in front of the Europa Palace Hotel, this promenade dates to the 19th century and owes its name to Maria Alexandrovna Romanova, wife of Tsar Alexander II of Russia. The story goes that during her stay in Sanremo in 1874, she was so captivated that she financed the planting of Washingtonia palms along the promenade and, in gratitude, Sanremo dedicated this stretch of coastline to the Empress.

Sanremo beach. Image – Kay Frances

After an afternoon’s cycling, a cinnamon and ginger body scrub in the hotel’s ‘Anemoi’ spa is the perfect tonic for any aching legs. Blissfully calm, it offers a Finnish sauna, a spacious Hamman, a generous indoor pool with waterfalls and underwater jets, plus an ice waterfall for the brave and a fully equipped gym. The tempting selection of spa treatments and scents; orange blossom, cedarwood and lemon and petitgrain, makes choosing a massage essential oil almost as tricky as choosing dinner (but not quite).

As if on cue, as aperitivo hour approaches, the spa quietly empties and we squeeze in a pre-dinner Aperol spritz on the rooftop terrace, whilst soaking up the last rays of sunshine. The deep blue Mediterranean stretches out before us, and the town’s Art deco casino begins to sparkle below. As the sun slips below the horizon, I return to the happy torture of choosing my next dish. Grilled octopus with Jerusalem artichokes instead of the rabbit, perhaps? A delicious Ligurian dilemma.

Europa Palace Hotel, Sanremo – www.europapalacesanremo.com

Since 2006, originally every two years but now annually since 2018, Soccer Aid has raised money in aid of UNICEF UK, through ticket sales and donations from the public.

From actors such as Tom Hiddleston, Owen Cooper and Danny Dyer to football legends Wayne Rooney and Jill Scott, there are plenty of huge names taking part.

Here is everything you need to know for this year’s match.

🏆 WE’RE BACK!
📆 Sunday, 31st May
🏟️ London Stadium
🎟️ https://t.co/DDfFFjyv9O

We can’t wait to celebrate 20 years of Soccer Aid for UNICEF with you! pic.twitter.com/7Y1bS2YXe6

— Soccer Aid (@socceraid) March 3, 2026

What are the Soccer Aid 2026 line-ups?

As with each year, the exhibition-style football match will once again be between England and the Soccer Aid World XI.

Each team is composed of celebrities and former professional players representing their countries, and is the only mixed-sex match officially sanctioned by The FA.

The England team is as follows:

Managers: Robbie Williams, Harry Redknapp and David Seaman

Legends: Wayne Rooney, Jermain Defoe, Jill Scott, Jack Wilshere, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Jade Moore, Joleon Lescott, Theo Walcott, Steph Houghton, Toni Duggan, Joe Hart

Celebrities: Tom Hiddleston, Paddy McGuinness, Owen Cooper, Danny Dyer, Damson Idris, Angryginge, Chloe Burrows, Jack Whitehall, Jordan North, Sam Thompson, Joe Marler, Olly Murs, Tom Grennan, GK Barry, Alex Brooker

The Soccer Aid World XI team is as follows:

Managers: Usain Bolt and Clarence Seedorf

Legends: Tim Cahill, Jordi Alba, Leonardo Bonucci, Lukas Podolski, Michael Essien, Dimitar Berbatov, Nemanja Matic, Ali Krieger, Edwin van der Sar, Jen Beattie. 

Celebrities: Ethan Payne, Dermot Kennedy, Maisie Adam, Nicky Byrne, Chris O’Dowd, Richard Gadd, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Simon Neil, Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Molly McCann, Tobi Brown/TBJZL, Big Zuu, Frankie Dettori, Nabhaan Rizwan

The ROW/World XI team narrowly leads the head-to-head, with eight wins to the England team’s six.

Last year’s match saw the World XI team win 5-4 at Old Trafford in Manchester.

This year, the match is being held at the London Stadium, which is the second time it has been played there.

When is Soccer Aid on?

Soccer Aid 2026 is free to watch in the UK and will be on ITV1 from 5pm tonight (May 31), with kick off at 6.30pm.

This year’s fundraising could help UNICEF create safe spaces in crises, deliver vital vaccinations and nutrition, support learning, and so much more to protect every child’s right to play. 

Will you be watching Soccer Aid this year? Let us know in the comments.

The five-part programme will follow Leo (Cumming), a bar owner in Manchester’s gay district of Canal Street.

He ends up getting embroiled in a feud with his long-standing neighbour Clive (played by David Morrissey).

The synopsis for Tip Toe reads: “Just as life should be settling down, the world around them is growing more tense.

“Words become weapons, opinions become radicalised, and gradually, two neighbours become deadly enemies in a tense, suburban thriller which challenges everything we consider to be safe.”

Tip Toe examines rising prejudice and hate crimes towards the LGBTQ+ community.

Speaking about the show, Russell T Davies shared: “I think it’s a crisis happening day after day – and it’s anyone.

“Everyone’s being weaponised against [each other].

“You could make a Jewish version of this drama, you could make a disabled version of this drama, women could make this drama.

“I see straight white men who could make this drama, feeling marginalised.

“It’s the temperature of the dialogue and the argument and the pitch of it – all driven by our phones – that’s alarming me greatly.”

Tip Toe full cast list for Channel 4 series

• Alan Cumming as Leo Struthers
• David Morrissey as Clive Goss
• Elizabeth Berrington as Stephanie Dale
• Pooky Quesnel as Marie Goss
• Jackson Connor as George Goss
• Paul Rhys as Melba
• Iz Hesketh as Zee Malone
• Andy Moss as Eddie
• Ania Marson as Bridget
• Joseph Evans as Saul Goss
• Gabriel Clark as Mikey Driscoll from Bolton
• Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo as Judy Khumalo
• Shakeel Kimotho as Hanna Ayomide
• Jolyon Benson as Frederic Hopper
• Kamil Borowski as Michal
• Dominic Holmes as Regime from Bolton
• Jackie Love as Miss Dixie
• Munya Mswaka as Kofi Musah
• Hamza Medley as Kabir Sharma
• Garon Akbar Clark as Vivaan Sharma
• Jake Waring as Alex Badderley

• Tyler Dobbs as Trent
• Imran Adams as Kwame Mbusi
• Steven Hillman as Tommo Brookes
• Jack Craig as Bradley Tuckshop Tucker
• Charles Humphreys as Olly
• George Kent as John
• Clare Calbraith as Maggie Sullivan
• Charlie Condou as Curtis Baxter
• Peter Caulfield as Dave
• Rae O’Brien as Lucille
• Stephen Bailey as Benny
• Callum Mardy as Robin Sparks
• Denise Welch as Diane Vazey
• Alex Williams as Rajesh
• Colin Connor as Connor Brady
• Hassan Maarfi as Hashim Habib
• Dale Monie as Craig Calloway
• Sophia Smith as Molly

Recommended reading:

When will Tip Toe be on TV?

Tip Toe’s first episode will air at 9pm on Sunday, May 31 on Channel 4, with the second episode following a day later in the same timeslot on Monday, June 1.

The remaining three episodes will air at 9pm on Sunday, June 7, Monday, June 8 and Tuesday, June 9.

Episodes will also be available to watch on Channel 4’s streaming service.

Will you be watching Tip Toe on Channel 4? Let us know in the comments.

Hundreds of tube drivers are set to walk across two days of planned strikes in London.

Commuters are set to face disruption across at least four Underground lines with two 24-hour stoppages scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday.

Drivers with the RMT union previously went on strike in April in a dispute over a four-day working week.

A strike planned for May 19 and 21 was called off at the eleventh hour following progress in talks.

TfL has insisted any such schedule would be voluntary and would not result in a reduction of contracted hours.

Tube services will be heavily disrupted on strike days, which will run from 00.01 to 23.59 on Tuesday, June 2, and then the same hours on Thursday, June 4.

On those days, no service at all is expected on the Circle line or the Piccadilly line.

There will also be no trains on the Metropolitan line between Baker Street and Aldgate, and on the Central line between White City and Liverpool Street.

While other lines including Overground and Elizabeth Line will operate as usual, service levels will vary with trains starting later and finishing earlier than usual, with customers advised to complete journeys before 9pm on both days.

A normal service is expected to run on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, TfL has said.

TfL chief operating officer Claire Mann said the transport authority was hoping to pilot proposals for a four-day week on the Bakerloo line, which it said had support from ‘a significant number’ of drivers.

She said: ‘We are disappointed to see the RMT continue with this industrial action. 

‘We still believe that the points they have raised can be worked out in time, through more detailed discussions and we are continuing to talk to the union’s representatives to find a way to avoid disruption to London.

‘We urge the RMT to work with us so we can resolve this dispute. In the meantime, we are asking customers to check before they travel and allow plenty of extra time for their journeys.’

RMT confirmed this week that strikes would go ahead, citing concerns the proposed four-day week could lead to ‘fatigue, longer shifts and reduced flexibility’.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

MORE: Major train delays to and from Heathrow Airport after water pipe bursts

MORE: Full list of Tube and bus walkouts during London strikes in June

MORE: Cars could be blocked from 200 more London roads outside schools

Shaw said after the victory at Wembley that she had been “a bit nervous” about announcing her new deal.

Fans had been through an emotional rollercoaster about her leaving, with Chelsea poised to take advantage.

But after a long season, in which Shaw scooped up several individual accolades including the WSL Player of the Year and Golden Boot, she relished getting her hands on another piece of silverware.

“To get the double is a good feeling,” Shaw said. “I’ve always said that Manchester is my home. It took a while, but we finally got [the contract agreement] done.”

At Wembley, her opener was crucial, coming after Brighton had dominated the first 30 minutes and with City struggling to get a foothold.

One moment – a cross into Shaw in the 38th minute – changed the game as the Jamaica striker rose highest to loop a header past goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie.

That killed Brighton’s momentum and captain Alex Greenwood’s strike just before half-time gave City a commanding lead.

Jeglertz agreed Shaw’s goal gave his side “relief” and her assist for Fujino in the second half put City out of sight. A final goal from substitute Vivianne Miedema confirmed victory.

Despite the noise over the past month, Shaw has remained their standout performer. She was important in the final, was the matchwinner in the semi-finals and finished the WSL season with a double on final day to reach 21 goals in 22 matches.

“I’m very impressed with how she handled that [speculation],” said Jeglertz. “She has never showed any mood that has affected her performance.

“Of course, she knows about the writings. But at the same time, she has been so professional, always performed and always been a good person.”

Rain is due to cross much of the UK after days of soaring temperatures

Thunderstorms and heavy downpours are due to hit the UK in a ‘big change’ in conditions after the end of the heatwave, the Met Office has said. It comes after record-breaking temperatures baked the country earlier this week.

Temperatures soared across the UK, with 35.1C measured in Kew Gardens, west London, and 32.9C recorded at Cardiff’s Bute Park, on Tuesday. On Sunday (May 31), Bushy Park in Richmond upon Thames saw the highest temperature of the day at 24.7C, the Met Office said.

But the weather is due to change from Monday, with heavy rain expected to cross the whole country, particularly in parts of Wales, forecasters have said, with thunderstorms and cooler weather to continue.

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Rebecca Mitchell, senior operational meteorologist at the weather service, said: “Going into next week, there is a big change on the way. We’ve got spells of rain, possible thunderstorms, and some strengthening winds through much of the week. The other part of the story is the temperatures will be much lower compared to the week just gone.

“They’ll be around average for the time of year, which typically is around 17 to 19 degrees in the north and around 18 to 21 degrees in the south, so about 14 degrees lower in some places compared to the previous week.

“We’re not expecting too many impacts from this because it has been so dry recently for many places, and actually for some areas the rain will be welcome, I think, for gardeners, farmers, anyone hoping for some rain,” she said. “And then, following that, into Tuesday, we’ve got some heavy showers and potential thunderstorms.

“The main areas likely to see some thunderstorms would be central and southern areas, so Northern Ireland, northern England, southern England, and Wales.”

For the rest of the week, much of the county will see ‘unsettled weather’ along with some sunny spells and highs of low-20Cs, she said. The cooler conditions come after at least 15 people died during the heatwave after getting into difficulties in bodies of water, prompting emergency services to issue safety warnings.

On Sunday morning, South Yorkshire Police said a search remained ongoing at the River Don in Mexborough after the force had received reports that an 11-year-old boy had entered the water on Saturday evening but had not been seen getting out.

Officers were called to the scene at Ferry Boat Lane at 7.59pm on Saturday and emergency crews from the National Police Air Service, Yorkshire Ambulance Service and the South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Services also responded, police said.

Offering lifts to friends will be second nature to many, but a potential issue could arise if offering some money to the driver for fuel costs.

Some might not know that charging even 1p more than the genuine cost of a journey (fuel, wear and tear) could classify the trip as ‘hire and reward’.

Under the Public Passenger Vehicle Act 1981, this could see drivers face a fixed penalty and a fine if the situation ended up going to court.

Why does accidentally overcharging for a lift potentially lead to a fine?

Claire Wills-McKissick, temporary car insurance expert at Tempcover, explained: “If you ask your passengers for a contribution to help ease the financial burden, you must avoid overcharging them by even 1p above the genuine cost of the journey, including fuel, wear, and tear.

“To do so, even completely unwittingly, risks crossing the line into a commercial transaction.

“Under the Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981, making a profit from a lift – even a small amount – classifies your vehicle as a public service vehicle operating for ‘hire and reward’, which requires a commercial public service vehicle operator’s licence most drivers won’t have.

“This instantly invalidates your standard car insurance policy.

“If caught driving without valid insurance, you face a fixed penalty and points on your licence – and if the case goes to court, fines are unlimited. Recouping costs must be done carefully to ensure you stay on the right side of the law.”

Tempcover shared that 39.2 miles is the ‘tipping point’ where a friendly favour of a lift starts to feel like a financial strain.

It added that sharing the driving duties could be shared to avoid some issues, with the use of temporary car insurance to split time behind the wheel.

Breaking down how this could work, Tempcover shared:

1. The Upfront Agreement

Agree on the split before setting off to avoid the awkwardness of the 39.2-mile tipping point.

1. Consult Government Baselines

Use official HMRC travel and mileage calculators to find a neutral, third-party framework for calculating running costs.

Recommended reading:

Grounding your maths in official Government data helps ensure you are only covering actual expenses rather than generating an illegal profit.

1. Share the load

If you can’t drive, take responsibility for the ‘mental load’ of the trip.

This could be being the navigator in chief, handling the route planner, or being the backseat DJ.

Will you be changing the way you offer lifts? Let us know in the comments.

A survivor of Jeffrey Epstein has accused Buckingham Palace of covering up the actions of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor after it received emails which would have shown he shared confidential government information as trade envoy.

Jess Michaels said the palace’s failure to act had wider moral consequences for the victims involved in the scandal surrounding the paedophile and former prince.

She told The Telegraph that by “protecting” Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, the palace had failed his accuser Virginia Giuffre.

“This is what institutions do. They protect powerful men and leave the people they harmed to carry it,” said Ms Michaels, who said she was raped by Epstein in 1991.

“Six years ago, the palace knew Andrew wasn’t just a problem; he could face a criminal investigation. And they sat on it.

“Protecting him meant doubting her. Virginia Roberts Giuffre was telling the truth, and she didn’t live to see them admit it. That breaks my heart and it should break everyone’s.”

Ms Giuffre, who died last year, alleged that she was trafficked to the former prince and made to have sex with him on three separate occasions. Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has vehemently denied the claims.

The Independent reported on Saturday that an archive of 30,000 emails, taken from a personal business contact of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, was handed over to Lord Chamberlain, the most senior officer in the Royal Household, in May 2020.

Court documents suggest those emails would have shown that Mr Mountbatten-Windsor was sharing confidential government information while serving as a trade envoy between 2001 and 2011.

The former Duke of York was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in a public office following allegations that he passed sensitive government information to Epstein.

It was revealed last week that Thames Valley Police is also investigating Mr Mountbatten-Windsor for allegations of sexual misconduct in their inquiry into potential misconduct in public office.

Ms Michaels told the newspaper: “I’m glad the UK is finally investigating.

“A little late, but it’s the very least they could do. Meanwhile, our own government named us as victims, shields the men who harmed us and still treats us like the problem.”

In response to claims surrounding the emails received by Buckingham Palace in 2020, a spokesperson said: “Since there is an ongoing police enquiry concerning Mr Mountbatten-Windsor, it is not possible to provide any comment on these matters.”

The palace declined to comment on the claims made by Ms Michaels.

The Independent has contacted Mr Mountbatten-Windsor for comment.

In The Mixer’s World Cup special

Previews of every single World Cup team in your inbox, featuring the players to look out for, games you shouldn’t miss and Metro’s big England predictions.