Tadcaster Road was closed at its junction with St Helen’s Road after a crash earlier this afternoon (May 1), but it has since reopened.

“The road is expected to remain closed for several hours while emergency services deal with the incident,” said a spokesperson for the force at around 2pm today.

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Motorists are advised to avoid the area and use an alternative route, with queues mounting across the west side of the city.

A resident who wanted to remain anonymous said: “It’s really tough trying to drive around west York at the moment with lots of drivers apparently trying to get round the closure on Tadcaster Road.  

“There are long queues on Carr Lane, and heading towards the city on Holgate Road and Dalton Terrace, much more than you would normally expect at this time of day on a Friday.  

“The Carr Lane queues are not helped by people stopping alongside parked cars making it very difficult for traffic coming the other way.”

More to follow.

A Peter Kay show has been evacuated mid-performance after authorities identified a potentially “suspicious bag” at the venue.

Witnesses said the comedian was taken off stage by security just 45 minutes into his show at the Utilita Arena Birmingham on Friday.

West Midland Police said they were searching the site after a 19-year-old man was taken into custody.

The force said in a statement: “We are assisting with an evacuation at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham after a potential suspicious bag was found.

“A 19-year-old man is in custody and as a precaution the site is currently subject of a search.

“We will provide further updates when we can.”

Doors opened at 6pm before the show began around 8pm. Footage on social media showed people queueing to leave their seats as part of the evacuation. A video from outside the venue showed police vehicles and flashing lights.

A spokesperson for the arena said that the evacuation was precautionary on advice of the force and ticket holders would be contacted in due course.

“Utilita Arena Birmingham has been evacuated as a precaution on the advice of West Midlands Police after a potential suspicious bag was found nearby.

“The safety and security of our customers and colleagues is our highest priority. We can confirm everyone was safely evacuated and that the venue is secure.

“Ticket holders will be contacted directly in due course.”

The arena, which can seat around 15,800 people, was set to host Mr Kay as part of his latest tour across the UK and Ireland, with all profits donated to 12 leading cancer charities, including Children with Cancer UK, Blood Cancer UK, Bowel Cancer UK, and the Teenage Cancer Trust.

At the end of an appeal hearing at London’s Southwark Crown Court on Friday, Justice Amanda Tipples said: “Having considered all the evidence before us, we cannot be sure that the damage to the complainant’s phone was caused by Mr Linehan… We therefore found Mr Linehan not guilty of the offence.”

The Devil Wears Prada 2 is the sequel to a film that launched a thousand memes.

For the film’s New York premiere in April 2026, fashion designer Evan Hirsh decided to commemorate one of the original 2006 film’s most celebrated scenes. He embroidered Meryl Streep’s infamous monologue on the fictional fashion history of the colour cerulean into the bright blue train of his coat.

In the monologue, ice-queen fashion editor Miranda Priestly (Streep) lambasts ingenue Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) for her ignorance about the blue – I mean, cerulean – colour of her sweater.

Equal parts derisive and incisive, this monologue nods to the “ballroom” tradition of reading the flaws of others, in order to deliver a devastating (and often hilarious) insult. Ballroom is an underground scene of competitive balls created by Black and Latinx LGBTQ+ communities centred on dance, fashion and performance. There, reading functions as both art form and social critique.

The monologue also encapsulates a skill practised in humanities classrooms around the world: close reading. This is the art of unpacking a detail and contextualising it within a broader history, to see how artistic choices and media landscapes come together to shape the world around us – often without us really noticing.

Although an old idea (arguably, even Aristotle was doing it), in the early decades of the 20th century, literary scholars in Britain and America began to emphasise the skills we now know as close reading. They argued that small details and specific choices come together to create the reader’s experience of the text.

In 2006, to see close reading on-screen was rare. Prior to the rise of social media, virtuosic displays of close readings were often confined to academic settings, or the occasional documentary. Now, close reading can be found everywhere in our content diets – in podcasts, YouTube videos and on TikTok.

Close reading proves an ideal technique for generating constant content. It allows creators to unpack artistic choices and the aesthetic histories of just about anything.

Some of this content presents itself as educational programming, making use of expert academic hosts (for example, in Architectural Digest’s series Every Detail or the London Review of Books’ podcast Close Readings).

These podcasts and videos form part of the history of post-war educational media, along with Open University programming that used to fill the BBC airwaves in the early hours. Contributors to this programming included Stuart Hall, whose criticism defined the field of Cultural Studies by melding historical analysis with questions of how media such as TV and film communicate with viewers.

Expertise in close reading, however, does not lie only within academia. Close readings can be found in fashion content that highlights the history of specific items, such as the 99% Invisible podcast Articles of Interest. And they’re also evident in the videos of influencers who examine the history of specific looks and the publications that shaped them.

Videos and podcasts on pop music and culture hosted by musicologists, such as Vulture’s Switched on Pop, also rely on close reading. Fan videos and tweets unpacking the work of singers like Taylor Swift or Sabrina Carpenter perform this same skill.

Every video breaking down the difference between gen Z and millennial makeup, every outfit takedown, every analysis of a political speech – close reading is everywhere.

Close reading in The Devil Wears Prada

Let’s return to that blue sweater. While fashion editors have debunked the scene’s representation of how the fashion industry operates, that is not what is at stake for the characters. This scene dramatises the allure of shared cultural knowledge. This kind of knowledge represents what it takes to succeed at the fictional Runway magazine.

By understanding and valuing the history of a colour, Andy could become part of a glamorous in group. Now, our phones contain our own personal Miranda Priestlys, explaining how and why an object, an image, a text matters – and perhaps why we should buy it.

The Met Gala, an annual evening of fundraising for New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, is always a key date in the close-reading calendar. The event exemplifies what art and music has always done for its wealthy patrons and consumers: it provides an opportunity to see and be seen, to participate in the performance of connoisseurship.

Former Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, the perennially sunglasses-clad inspiration for Priestly, helped make first Monday in May (when the gala is held) a covetable event in the fashion calendar. Days after the theatrical release of the Devil Wears Prada 2 in May 2026, a flurry of content will emerge close reading the outfit choices at the gala.

The message of the cerulean monologue is that culture, and the business of culture, exempts no one. Simply because we do not care about a certain aspect of culture does not mean we can escape its influence.

Like the blue of Andy Sach’s sweater, the act of close reading “represents millions of dollars and countless jobs”, and probably more hours of your own time than you would care to admit. Perhaps most importantly, close reading is the skill that enables us to unpack art’s political statements.

So, in case you had any doubt, it’s important that you know: it’s not just blue, it’s cerulean.

Images of the Utilita Arena emptying are being shared – police are investigating a ‘suspicious bag’

Comedian Peter Kay was reportedly ‘bundled off stage’ in Birmingham as his stand-up show at the Utilita Arena was cancelled after just 45 minutes tonight (Friday).

The comedian had taken to the stage at the Utilita Arena Birmingham at 8pm, but the show was abruptly cancelled after 45 minutes.

People in the crowd said there had been ‘no explanation’ and no warning anything was wrong ahead of a member of the production team heading on to the stage at around 8.45pm to say the show wouldn’t be continuing.

Police have now confirmed they are investigating a ‘suspicious bag’ at the arena.

Images and videos being posted to social media show crowds walking out and the arena emptying. Others said they had seen police in the arena, which was then evacuated, reports Birmingham Live.

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The show, forming part of the Bolton-born funnyman’s national tour which will see all profits donated to 12 leading cancer charities, had started at 8pm.

Kay is due to play the arena at the same time again tomorrow night (Saturday, May 2). It is currently unclear why the show was pulled tonight.

BirminghamLive said it has contacted West Midlands Police and organisers for more details.

A member of the audience told BirminghamLive that everyone was asked to leave the venue by a member of the production team at around 8.45pm.

They said the show “wouldn’t be continuing”.

One fan who was at the show shared on X, formerly Twitter: “Just been evacuated out the Utilitia Arena Birmingham and Peter Kay bundled off stage,” adding a mind blown emoji.

Another posted a video of the arena being evacuated, writing: “Being evacuated from the Peter Kay gig in Birmingham. No information as to why.”

A third commented: “Peter Kay gig in Birmingham has been cancelled 45mins in. Peter bundled off stage and the venue evacuated. Police on site. Stay safe, Birmingham.”

And a fourth added: “So not the evening we expected. Evacuated from Birmingham Utilita. Peter Kay brilliant for 45 mins then some p**** has to ruin it. All out safe and quickly.”

The Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester has identified several seats where MPs are prepared to step aside, triggering a by-election which could pave the way for his return to Parliament, The Guardian newspaper said.

The newspaper also reported Mr Burnham’s supporters are attempting to avoid a formal leadership challenge against the Prime Minister, and hope to kickstart a process for him to stand down after what are expected to be disastrous results for Labour in the May 7 elections.

Mr Burnham was earlier this year blocked by Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) from standing in the Gorton and Denton by-election, after the previous MP Andrew Gwynne stood down, citing health reasons.

Andy Burnham at Bolton Interchange (Image: Newsquest)

The NEC said worries about the costs of running a new Manchester mayoral elections and fear that Reform could take the mayoralty were behind the decision to block Mr Burnham.

He is now reported to be lining up an “impressive” candidate to replace him as mayor, who The Guardian said was not a sitting MP.

Mr Burnham, who served as health secretary in Gordon Brown’s government, is also said to be preparing a progressive policy platform for Government.

Constituencies across Merseyside and Greater Manchester are reportedly among those where MPs are prepared to stand aside for Mr Burnham, The Guardian said.

Earlier this week, in an interview with the BBC, Labour MP for Bootle Peter Dowd rejected suggestions he was preparing to make way for Mr Burnham.

DIY expert Nick Knowles said he’s no longer going to Turkey as BBC Morning Live viewers told ‘it could see holidays in jeopardy’

A BBC travel expert has given an update to anyone with holidays booked or considering going on a foreign break this summer. On BBC Morning Live consumer champion Rebecca Wilcox told hosts Rav Wilding and Holly Hamilton how concern is growing from people with breaks lined up – as to if it could be cancelled, will they be charged more supplementary fees and will they be covered.

And during the section show DIY expert and guest Nick Knowles revealed his family has decided to cancel their holiday to Turkey amidst all the uncertainty. Host Helen said: “With this morning’s headlines showing oil prices at their highest level since 2022 there’s growing concern that airlines could respond by raising fares or even cancelling some flights.”

Ms Wilcox agreed and said: “It’s very worrying and and the number of headlines make us spike in our concern and I can see that the fuel price is going up making concerns go up and what we’re going to talk about today is how specifically that is going to affect the holiday pricing with airline fares because, of course, jet fuel, is integral for flying through the air.

“Jet2 has told us they are seeing an increase in holidaymakers leaving it to the very last minute to book their holidays, and that’s so they know the full cost of their trip at the time of purchase and that is due to the conflict in the Middle East.

“It tells us that there’s a real worry going on out there. People are quite hesitant to book, they don’t know whether they should go ahead with it. On Monday we heard the Prime Minister saying that airlines actually do have enough jet fuel at the moment but it could see holidays in jeopardy in the future and that depends upon how long this conflict goes on for which, of course, nobody knows.”

She said more people are considering whether to go ahead or just book a staycation in the UK instead. Presenter Holly Hamilton said: “Most people when you chat to them, it’s at the forefront of their mind about booking holidays and in some cases they are cancelling them. Nick you and I were chatting about it and you’ve cancelled your holiday.”

Nick Knowles said: “Yes a holiday in Turkey and we’ve decided to stay home. A holiday in the UK is more expensive than going abroad – so we’re going to go in the back garden and drink cocktails and sunbathe in the back garden. The trick is don’t tell anyone you’re not going away because then they’ll ring you and interrupt.”

Holly said, “Bad news, you’ve just told everybody.” Nick added, “I’m going to be in such trouble with my wife now.”

READ MORE: Martin Lewis warning for holidaymakers including Jet2, easyJet, TUIREAD MORE: Martin Lewis tells mobile users ‘type 5-digit code and screen grab result’ as thefts soar

Rav asked: “Can holiday companies just raise prices then?” Rebecca said: “I’m devastated that Nick is not going to Turkey – how is he going to get those new teeth he was talking about earlier? I’m joking, obviously his teeth are beautiful.” Nick interjected: “I’m going back to the same people who did my hair it’s fine.”

When can holiday companies raise prices

Rebecca said: “They can only raise their prices in specific circumstances because there is a law protecting consumers from these huge hikes in prices that they could add on for any random charges. This law is known as the Package Travel Regulation and it means we are protected.

“The surcharges they are allowed to add on are related to things like fuel cost increases, which we’re talking about today, transport taxes and fees and any fluctuations in the exchange rate movement. They have to say this in your T&Cs at time of booking so just c heck your terms and conditions.”

Holly said: “The people who have booked their holiday will be thinking ‘how much could they possibly add on?’ “ Ms Wilcox said: “Well, it is a limited amount they can add on before they give you the option of cancelling or a refund and that amount they can add on is 8 per cent. This 8 per cent is broken down into 2 sections because the holiday company has to swallow that first 2 per cent and then you as consumer will only pay 6 per cent and that’s of the total cost of your holiday package.

READ MORE: TV holiday expert Simon Calder gives holiday 2026 update and says ‘that is crazy’

“What does that look like for a holiday? So for instance if you’ve spent £1,000 on your holiday that’ll be an extra £60. A £3,500 holiday, another £210, and a £5,000 cruise that’s £300. They can only ask for this for up to 20 days before you travel and that’s why people are booking these last minute holidays because the time limit for that 6 per cent has already gone.”

Package holidays

Rav gave an example from a viewer, Jeff, who was due to pay the balance on his holiday – he’d booked the flights and the accommodation through the same agent and asked if his family would be able to get a full refund if they have to cancel our holiday because of the shortage. Ms Wilcox said: “This sounds like he’s booked a package holiday when he’s booked the flight and the accommodation together and that means you do have more protection and you should be offered a full refund and a suitable alternative if they make major changes.

“If it’s a flight only deal they must offer you a replacement flight or a refund. If they offer you a holiday voucher or credit with them instead of cash be really wary and think twice about doing it. They may lure you in by offering you something that’s supposedly more than what you spent so it looks like it’s of greater value, but I would say you’re more protected if you get the cash back.” She said there may be restrictions, there may be an end date on the credit and also the company could go bust.

She said getting travel insurance when you make the booking was vital as you’re protected from then until time of travel.

The list includes requests for tree felling, the creation of new sports facilities, various residential extensions, and adjustments to previous planning consents.

A full summary of each application submitted to Durham County Council is provided below:

• Hollin Lodge 29A Etherley Lane, Bishop Auckland DL14 7QU. Works to trees including reducing the height of one conifer by 4m, tidying one conifer, and crown reduction and reshaping by 3m of two cherry trees under a Section 211 notice. Ref. No: DM/26/01079/TCA
• 26 North Road, Seaham SR7 7AB. Felling and removal of two conifer trees. Ref. No: DM/26/01084/TCA
• Cell R5 Lambton Park Development Site At Former County Show Ground, Chester Road, Bournmoor DH3 4DX. Non-material amendments to conditions covering plans, drive crossings, landscaping, boundary treatment, and bat/bird boxes for approved application DM/23/01888/RM (as amended by DM/25/02874/NMA). Ref. No: DM/26/01067/NMA
• 165 Hatfield Place, Peterlee SR8 5TG. Pitched roof. Ref. No: DM/26/01059/FPA
• Fairbank The Promenade, Consett DH8 5NJ. Single storey front/side porch extension to the property. Ref. No: DM/26/01050/FPA
• 50 Northside Buildings, Trimdon Grange, Trimdon Station TS29 6HW. Application to apply render to both the front elevation and gable end. Ref. No: DM/26/01047/FPA
• 4 Stockton Road, Sedgefield, Stockton On Tees TS21 2AG. Removal of an existing conservatory and construction of a new single storey extension. Ref. No: DM/26/00988/FPA
• 11 Holyrood, Great Lumley, Chester-le-street DH3 4LY. Erection of a garden room within the property’s grounds. Ref. No: DM/26/01046/HPN
• 5 The Cedars, Coxhoe, Durham DH6 4SG. Creation of a new racket sport club within the premises. Ref. No: DM/26/00972/FPA
• Unit 8 Gemini Point, Peterlee SR8 2FB. Variation of condition 2 relating to previous planning application DM/19/02830/FPA. Ref. No: DM/26/00971/FPA
• White House, Cockhouse Lane, Ushaw Moor, Durham DH7 7PW. Two storey side extension and single storey rear extension with alterations to vehicular access and creation of hardstanding. Ref. No: DM/26/00918/VOC
• 4 Gomer Terrace, Toronto, Bishop Auckland DL14 7SE. Replacement of the existing conservatory roof with a new one. Ref. No: DM/26/00874/FPA
• 21 South Street, Durham DH1 4QP. Variation of condition 1 to amend the rear offshoot/balcony area and discharge condition 6 regarding balcony privacy screen details from planning permission DM/24/01835/RM to prevent shading to rear windows. Ref. No: DM/26/00797/FPA
• Plot 18 Dunelm Stables, Thornley, Durham DH6 3BN. Change of use from agricultural land to residential curtilage, erection of polytunnel and erection of greenhouse (retrospective). Ref. No: DM/26/00762/VOC
• Moorlyn, Wingate Road, Trimdon Colliery, Trimdon Station TS29 6AX. Change of use from agricultural land to residential curtilage with erection of polytunnel and greenhouse (retrospective). Ref. No: DM/26/00707/FPA
• The Old Byre, Market Place, St Johns Chapel, Bishop Auckland DL13 1QF. Discharge of condition 3 regarding window/door details tied to planning permission DM/22/01132/FPA. Ref. No: DM/26/00561/DRC

For more notices affecting YOUR area, visit our Public Notice Portal – Public Notices from The Northern Echo (publicnoticeportal.uk).

• 1 Mill Cottage, Demesnes, Barnard Castle DL12 8PE. Discharge of condition 3 concerning joinery details attached to permissions DM/25/02330/FPA and DM/25/01852/LB. Ref. No: DM/26/00582/DRC
• 60 Deneside, Lanchester, Durham DH7 0LY. Conversion of part of the front garden to create hardstanding for car parking at the front. Ref. No: DM/26/00193/FPA
• Woodleigh, Flatts Road, Barnard Castle DL12 8AA. External alterations for the opening of a Banking Hub and Post Office, including new signage. Ref. No: DM/26/00109/FPA
• Woodleigh, Flatts Road, Barnard Castle DL12 8AA. Application for various advertisements connected to the Banking Hub and Post Office, including fascia, projecting, window poster, directory, and CCTV signage. Ref. No: DM/26/00110/AD

Proposals for a 2,700 square metre supermarket and other shops, a drive-through, pharmacies, and restaurants at Filey Road in Scarborough have been met with dozens of objections from local residents.

​More than 60 letters have been sent to the council, many of which detail concerns about the development’s impact on town centre businesses and on the local environment and biodiversity, as well as noise and sound pollution that could affect neighbouring properties.

​Concerns were also raised about pedestrian safety and access as well as light pollution.

​Objector, Marion Hawkins, said: “As a local resident, I believe this development is totally unnecessary.

​“There is no need for another supermarket or takeaway shops and its isolated position means only those with cars will be able to access it.”

“The town centre is dying – any developments of this nature belong there, where they can attract people into the town – not away from it.”

​However, not all residents are opposed to the plan, with several locals stating their support for the scheme proposed by Cliff Court Developments Ltd.

​Paul McGuire said: “Clinging onto the idea of a thriving town centre high street is not going to help.

​“It just won’t happen, times have changed, shopping habits have changed and we as a town need to adapt.

​“This is a positive move that will boost employment and provide much-needed amenities to the ever-expanding Eastfield and Cayton areas.”

​​A full planning application has been submitted for the extension of the current park and ride facility, the creation of two new roundabouts, and the construction of an internal access road.

​The outline plans – which would see more detailed proposals submitted after approval – include a wide range of potential businesses and services.

​​“Strong interest” has already been expressed by potential occupiers, but the “end operators have not yet been selected, and therefore the applicant seeks permission for a range of uses to provide maximum flexibility and to enable the development to respond to changing market conditions,” according to Lichfields, the agent for the application.

New Scarborough Retail Park, Filey Road. Illustrative Masterplan..

​Local resident Lisa Al-Bizri stated: “The proposed 24-hour nature of a major supermarket and drive-thru units is entirely incompatible with the existing residential character of Filey Road.”

​Scarborough Town Council has also objected to the proposal due to “serious concerns about the damaging effects out-of-town developments can have on the footfall and viability of our town centre”.

​Jennifer Blyth-Rouse, who opposes the scheme, said: “There are already sufficient supermarkets and shops within reach, and we need tourists to fund the town shops and events.

​“A new retail park would stop this from happening. The town relies on footfall and the present park and ride would be sufficient.”

​Another objector, Karen Moorhouse, stated: “I am absolutely horrified at this appalling planning application, which will have such a negative impact on so many households in the local area, not to mention all the wildlife that inhabits the proposed planning area.

​“We moved to Sea View Crescent to enjoy a quiet and peaceful retirement, which so far has been ideal. Close to the sea, and a lovely view of the countryside from our bungalow, which would be ruined if this proposed application is allowed to go ahead.

​Commenting in support of the application, resident Colin Braithwaite noted: “I feel a supermarket is an essential need in that area, particularly with the new development across the road, and if a drive-through were to be a coffee shop, I think it would be well used and one of the few on that side of the town.”

​​If approved, the developer would have permission to use commercial units for shops, cafés and restaurants, medical and health services, a tanning shop, and a hot food takeaway.

​​The proposal states that the park and ride is served by the No. 165 bus service, which provides access to Scarborough town centre and runs every 20 minutes, seven days a week, between April and November.

​​The application adds: “The proposed commercial development will significantly improve the range, accessibility and availability of local shops, services and facilities to local residents and tourists.

​​“Indeed, there is currently a shortage of such facilities in this area, as identified by local residents during the pre-application public engagement.”

​North Yorkshire Council has not set a date for deciding on the plans which are open to representations by members of the public.

Planning summer holidays in Europe is beginning to involve more focus on avoiding high temperatures.

Destinations including the Greek islands and southern Italy have traditionally relied on warm, stable summers to attract tourists. But they have faced extreme temperatures causing mass evacuations, wildfires and putting lives in danger in recent summers.

Even without those conditions, high temperatures are changing the summer holiday experience. Tourists are often more exposed to heat risk than residents. They spend longer periods outdoors, take part in outdoor sports, and navigate unfamiliar environments without knowing where to find shade, or local healthcare. Yet despite this heightened exposure, tourists’ vulnerability to extreme heat remains relatively underexamined.

Recent summers have made these risks visible. During 2024, parts of southern Europe, including Greece, Italy, Spain and Cyprus, experienced temperatures exceeding 40°C. During Greece’s record-setting heatwave, several foreign visitors died or went missing including the British broadcaster Michael Mosley. Mosley went missing on the Greek island of Symi and a coroner found the cause of death could have been heatstroke. In response to these very high temperatures, countries including the UK, Germany, and Sweden issued travel advisories warning of extreme heat in popular destinations.

Heat is not just a safety issue; it is also reshaping the quality of the holiday itself. Extreme temperatures can shorten stays, reduce participation in outdoor activities, and lower overall satisfaction. Key tourist sites, such as the Acropolis in Greece, may close in extreme heat making trips less satisfying. As a result, rising temperatures are already influencing what tourists can do, when they travel, and how destinations function.

Shifting travel patterns

As heat intensifies, travel patterns are beginning to shift. A growing number of tourists are moving away from traditionally hot Mediterranean destinations towards cooler regions, a trend often described as “coolcations”. Emerging evidence points to declining tourist demand in parts of southern Europe during peak summer months, alongside increased interest in destinations with milder climates.

Elevated temperatures are also influencing when people take a trip. A recent report by the European Travel Commission found that 28% of travellers are planning to change the time of year that they travel. Avoiding extreme heat was cited as a key reason.

Extreme heat also interacts with other climate-related pressures. Wildfires, drought and water shortages can disrupt tourism activities and local economies. As one participant in ongoing research at the University of East London described:
“Our reservoir was very low over the summer… boating, sailing, and water sports couldn’t run. The centre has now closed. You see those ripple effects.”

Climate is not the only factor shaping travel decisions this year. Geopolitical tensions, including the ongoing conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran, are contributing to rising fuel and travel costs. This is adding another layer of pressure, encouraging some travellers to reconsider long-distance or high-cost travel

These pressures can reinforce climate-driven trends. If southern destinations become both hotter and more expensive, travellers may be more likely to choose nearer, cooler alternatives.

Extreme heat is no longer a marginal issue for tourism; it is becoming a structural one. As heatwaves intensify and seasonal patterns shift, traditional peak holiday seasons may no longer align with safe or comfortable conditions.

Adapting will require more than incremental change. It means rethinking infrastructure, timing and visitor management, from providing shade and cool spaces, to redesigning tourism calendars. In some destinations, this is already happening, with attractions shifting opening hours to cooler periods of the day, a trend increasingly described as “noctourism”.

But adaptation is not only physical; it is also behavioural. A key part of this transition lies in how travellers perceive and respond to heat. Perception shapes behaviour: whether visitors adjust their plans, seek shade, stay hydrated, or recognise when conditions have become dangerous. This is particularly important for travellers from temperate countries, such as the UK, where awareness and experience of extreme heat remain relatively limited. Without a strong perception of risk, even well-designed warnings may fail to prompt action.

Clear and timely communication will therefore be essential. Travellers need support to interpret unfamiliar risks and take protective action when needed. This includes clearer public messaging, accessible guidance on heat safety, and better integration of tourists into national and local heat health alert systems.

At present, most heat alerts are designed with residents in mind. Yet tourists represent a highly exposed and often overlooked group. Integrating communication to visitors into heat action plans, through multilingual alerts and travel advisories, will be increasingly important as global travel continues. This kind of information needs to be developed for travellers and tour operators.

It is vital to improve our understanding of tourists perceptions of risk from heat, how to respond, and the effectiveness of communications.

Airlines, hotels, and travel websites could provide key ways to communicate in future. Providing heat-related guidance at the point of booking, before departure, and during the stay could help bridge the gap between awareness and action. In years ahead, if summer temperatures continue to intensify this could be vitally important.