PASSENGERS were hit with travel chaos after roads surrounding a major UK airport were “totally inaccessible”.

Floodwater left motorists “jammed for miles” on their way to Luton Airport this morning after heavy rainfall overnight.

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Holidaymakers travelling to Luton Airport this morning were “jammed for miles” after roads became completely waterlogged over night.

Footage outside the airport showed the “total chaos” as backlogged traffic tried to navigate the flooded areas.

The road was inaccessible for less than 30 minutes, according to a London Luton Airport spokesperson.

The main roundabout appeared to be the worse affected area.

Emergency workers could be seen with equipment to drain the water.

One person shared on social media: “Luton Airport totally inaccessible due to flooding at main roundabout, all roads jammed for miles, will be hours until sorted out, total chaos.”

Luton Airport have confirmed that the airport has been open and fully operational since this morning,

The access road to the terminal is also clear of any flooding, said a Luton Airport spokesperson.

A spokesperson said earlier today: “Due to adverse weather, localised flooding is possible.

“Please allow extra time for your journey to and from the airport.

“Public transport could also be affected. For the latest status of your flight, please contact your airline.”

Gatwick Express also urged rail users to check their journeys.

A spokesperson said: “Due to the consistent overnight rainfall throughout the GTR network, a number of services are expected to be impacted this morning.

“The first services through the areas listen on the next message will report back on current track conditions.

“They will travel their route at reduced speeds, and so will likely run with delays and could be altered at short notice.”

Meanwhile, Footie fans were also disappointed to learn AFC Wimbledon and Newcastle’s Carabao Cup third-round meeting tomorrow has been called off due to “extensive overnight flooding” at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.

The Dons’ stadium in London is closed as a result, with a rescheduled date yet to be confirmed.

A statement on Wimbledon’s official website read: “We regret to inform supporters that due to extensive overnight flooding of the River Wandle and surrounding areas, including at our Cherry Red Records Stadium, Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup third-round fixture against Newcastle United has been postponed.

“More information will follow in due course regarding fixture rearrangement.

“The stadium is closed until further notice.”

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The Overground and some Tube lines in London have also been partly suspended due to flooding.

The District Line is not running between Turnham Green and Richmond, while the Piccadilly and Metropolitan lines are suspended between Rayners Lane and Uxbridge.

And, there is no Overground service between South Acton and Richmond, while severe delays on the Bakerloo Line, and Metropolitan line between Rayners Lane and Harrow-on-the-Hill is affecting users.

It comes as The Environment Agency issued a flood warning for parts of England today.

As of 7.40am, 13 flood warnings – meaning flooding is expected – were issued for England by the Environment Agency.

Areas affected by the flood warnings include Atherstone in Warwickshire, Leighton Buzzard and Luton in Bedfordshire and parts of London including Wimbledon and South Ruislip.

The Met Office also placed parts of Wales, much of the south of England, the Midlands and into north-west England and Yorkshire under a yellow rain warning.

An amber warning came into force at 5am this morning and will last until 9pm, sweeping over Worcester, Birmingham, Nottingham and Hull.

And, some affected areas could see a whopping 100 to 120mm of rain today.

Environment Agency flood duty manager Sarah Cook said “persistent heavy rain and thunderstorms” could lead to some property flooding and travel disruption.

She said: “Persistent heavy rain and thunderstorms could lead to significant surface water flooding on Monday across parts of England.

“The impacts could include localised flooding in urban areas and fast-responding catchments, including some property flooding as well as travel disruption. The risk from river flooding remains low.

“Environment Agency teams are out on the ground and ready to support local authorities in responding to surface water flooding.

“We urge people to plan their journeys carefully, follow the advice of local emergency services on the roads and not to drive through flood water – it is often deeper than it looks and just 30cm of flowing water is enough to float your car.

“People should check their flood risk, sign up for free flood warnings and keep up to date with the latest situation as well as following @EnvAgency on X, formerly Twitter, for the latest flood updates.”

Met Office meteorologist Jonathan Vautrey previously told the PA news agency that Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and up towards the Wash and the Humber could see over a month’s worth of rain falling on Monday.

Police have confirmed a number of road closures across Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire following “substantial flooding” overnight.

Heavy rainfall on Sunday into Monday has seen areas such as Dunstable and Hitchin partially submerged.

Bedfordshire Police said it had closed off part of Dunstable High Street due to “substantial flooding”, with footage shared on social media showing cars battling high water around the Saracen’s Head pub.

Central Bedfordshire Council said flooding had also hit Flitwick, Cranfield and Marston Moretaine.

North Hertfordshire Police have also advised motorists to avoid some parts of Hitchin, including Walsworth Road near the town centre.

Meanwhile, storms over the weekend saw lightning trigger a terrifying explosion in Stoke-on-Trent.

Firefighters and police were called to Bambury Street in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, before a cordon went up and homes were evacuated.

And, shocking footage in a Hampshire town showed the moment a tornado swept in and wreaked havoc.

Two blocks of flats were among homes damaged by winds that also felled several trees in Aldershot on Friday.

Another twister was also captured on video in Bedfordshire, Luton yesterday afternoon.

Meanwhile, a man from Northamptonshire described the moment he saw a “wave of water” heading towards him during flooding on Sunday night.

Tim Maher and his partner Carol Findon, from Grendon, saw their two-storey home partially submerged overnight with more than a foot of water.

Mr Maher told the PA news agency: “We’ve had an awful lot of rain in recent days and some forecasters were warning we could see a month’s worth of rain in 24 hours.

“I have an app on my phone which tracks river levels and at around 8.45pm it rocketed up.

“I decided to drive down to the bridge and saw the water breaking the banks and coming down the road towards me.

“I quickly turned around, drove home and put up a flood barrier we’ve got up against the door. It kept out a lot of the water but we’ve had about an inch overnight.

“We’ve had some damage to the carpets, settees and other furniture. The most difficult bit will be drying out the structure.

“We haven’t had much sleep and at least eight houses on our road have been impacted. It would be nice to get a permanent solution to this problem.”

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WETHERSPOONS pubs are known for being inside some of the UK’s most beautiful buildings, from old cinemas to converted bingo halls.

And one of the most beautiful is in a trendy seaside town.

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The Samuel Peto in Folkestone is in a former church with many of the features still in place.

The Samuel Peto is one of my local Wetherspoons, having moved to the seaside town last year.

Funded by Sir Samuel Morto Peto, who was also an MP, he was known for being one of the major Victorian railway designers, connecting more than 750 miles of track across the UK.

As well as being part of the team behind Nelson’s Column, he also designed the Salem Chapel which opened in 1874.

It was Grade II listed in 1975 and has been serving booze as a Wetherspoons since 1998.

And if you want to see some of that history, a lot of it is intact inside the pub.

The painted cloud ceilings are a classy touch, with the huge organ still sitting at the back of the pub.

Ornate chandeliers and wooden balustrades line the interiors, with huge stained glass windows letting in most of the light.

It’s certainly one of my favourites I’ve ever been to.

While it isn’t quite on the seaside – that accolade is reserved for the biggest ever Wetherspoons in Ramsgate – it is just a short walk from the beach.

But going inside is a cosy affair, with many of the booths being perfect to settle in for the night thanks to the wooden privacy screens between each of them.

Expect a classic Wetherspoons walk to the toilets – if you’re at the top you have 94 steps to go.

The food is what you’d expect from a Wetherspoons. I often go for the pizza or chicken curry which are exactly what you’d expect for the pub grub – nothing special but certainly enough for an affordable dinner out.

And I’ll always return for the cheap booze – where else can I get a glass of wine for less than £2?

Sure, the bar is almost constantly sticky, and it’s definitely an older crowd that you will find in the day.

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But local couple Holly and Pete say they love the crowd it brings.

They told Sun Online Travel: “We love the crowd that the Wetherspoons brings.

“There’s always a bunch of eclectic characters in there, so there’s never a dull moment.

“And it’s beautiful when the sun comes in through the huge stain glass windows”.

And if you really want a different venue for the evening, you can head to the nearby Brewing Brothers on the harbour for some great beers, or Burrito Buoys for amazing frozen cocktails.

Why you should head to the seaside town of Folkestone

The Sun’s Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey has revealed why its a great seaside break, being a local herself.

“Folkestone was named the Best Place to Live in the southeast in a 2024 study by the Times.

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“And having made the move myself, I can see why.

“There is the Harbour Arm, with trendy bars and eateries ranging from Japanese to Mexican, or the multicoloured high street with local cafes and shops.

“There are amazing local vineyards and breweries, although I can hope on the Channel Tunnel and be in France within 35 minutes if I fancied a cheap booze run.

“It even has F51, the worlds first multi storey skate park with climbing wall too.

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“I can see why it is called the new Brighton too – not only is it less than an hour by train from London, but house prices are a fraction of the cost compared to the other seaside destination.”

We’ve also rounded up some of the most beautiful Wetherspoons in the UK you can visit.

And the world’s most beautiful McDonald’s has reopened – here’s how to find it.

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AN island just off the coast of Cornwall has become a popular place to visit among staycationers looking for a remote getaway. 

St Agnes, one of the islands in the Isles of Scilly, has a population of around 85 people due to its out of the way location. 

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It’s the most southerly island in the Isles of Scilly and furthest from the main island of St Mary’s. 

But its secluded setting and wild, unspoiled scenery are why so many people want to head there.

There are plenty of beautiful beaches in St Agnes considered among the best in the world.

Some of the most popular ones are Bar, Beady Pool and Periglis Cove.

According to the travel photographer Gordon Stokes, Periglis is the most south westerly bathing beach in Britain.

He said of it: “It’s known as Mermaid’s Beach because there’s lots of mica in the sand which leaves people who sit on it with shiny scales attached to them.”

Bar is a sandbar which at low tide connects the islands of St Agnes and Gugh.

When the tide is out, it’s a popular spot for bathing in the shallow waters and for exploring rock pools.

Beady Pool is famous for small ceramic beads that wash up on its shore, which are remnants of a 17th century shipwreck.

Periglis Cove offers an opportunity for kayaking and stand up paddle boarding, and some say it’s the best place on the island to watch the sunset.

Visitors can also enjoy stunning views across to the bird sanctuary that’s Annet, the Western Rocks and out to Bishop Rock.

Another popular attraction in St Agnes is the Troytown Maze – a seven-ring pebble maze that’s the subject of speculation about its origins. 

Some say it was built by a lighthouse keeper in 1795, but remains of an earlier maze were found when it was dug up in the 1980s. 

It can be found on the coast path around the island for those looking to explore by foot.

The whole of Scilly is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and rife with wildlife.

Seals can be seen around the islands and puffins breed on Annet.

In the Autumn, St Agnes is often host to rare migratory birds.

There’s no hotel or guesthouse on the island, but there’s Troytown Farm campsite, set on one of the beaches.

Despite its remote location, the campsite offers many modern facilities.

The farm generates its own electricity with solar panels and collects rainwater.

There’s hot showers, washing machines and dryers, kayaks and paddle boards to rent, and camping mats, chairs, and stoves for hire.

If you’re looking to level up from a tent, the campsite also has bell tents for hire, pre-erected and fully equipped, and self-catering holiday cottages to let.

Troytown Farm is the only dairy farm in Scilly, making a range of produce from fresh milk, butter and clotted cream to ice-cream made in its tiny on-site dairy.

This is all available from its little farm shop, along with beef and pork reared on the farm.

It currently costs just £12.50 per night for adults to camp at Troytown Farm and £6.75 for children under 5.

There are few ways to get to St Agnes, including plane and ferry.

The Scillonian ferry sails daily from Penzance to St Mary’s from March to November, and on Sundays in the summer.

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The crossing takes about two hours, 45 minutes, and from St Mary’s you can take a connecting boats to St Agnes.

Skybus is the Isles of Scilly’s own airline with flights from Exeter, Newquay and Land’s End.

A NEW Wetherspoons pub could soon open at one of the UK’s oldest train stations – on the old site of a major UK attraction.

The pub chain has revealed plans to open in the former site of the London Dungeon.

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Called The Sun Wharf, the new pub would open in the arches under London Bridge station.

The location was once home to the London Dungeon until 2013, before it moved to its new location nearby on the South Bank.

Having first opened in 1974, it originally opened with just historical waxworks, before evolving into theatrical shows you could walk through including events such as the Fire of London and Jack the Ripper.

After being bought by what would become Merlin Entertainments in 1992, London Dungeon moved locations after 39 years, with the rebuild costing £20million and now welcomes more than 700,000 people a year.

If the Wetherspoons pub is given the go-ahead for the location, it would open seven days a week, from 6:30am until 12:30am.

The planning application, submitted on September 11, is yet to be confirmed.

However, the location has remained empty due to it being hard to let, according to Network Rail.

Back in 2017, they submitted to the local council: “The residual premises provide a very poor quality environment.

“The former user (London Dungeon) was somewhat unusual in so far as the poor quality environment was its main attraction.

“NR Commercial Property has been unable to identify other potential D2 users willing to lease the residual space in its current state.”

An official opening date is yet to be confirmed.

It would be the second Wetherspoons to open near London Bridge, joining the The Pommelers Rest at Tower Bridge.

London Bridge station is the oldest London railway terminus that is still running, having opened in 1836.

Now, it welcomes around 140,000 passengers a day, making it one of the busiest in the city.

As well has having underground services including the Northern and Jubilee lines, it also connects travellers to central London and destinations across Kent via overground services.

But it isn’t the only Wetherspoons pub to have recently opened at a UK train station.

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The Lion and The Unicorn opened underneath Waterloo train station in London earlier this month.

It is one of the biggest pubs that Wetherspoons has opened to date.

The Sun’s Laura McGuire was one of the first to go down, saying: “Overall the pub had a more modern feel to it compared to other more historic locations as it’s situated in The Sidings, which was built on the grounds of the former Eurostar Terminal.

“I have to say the view from this location is not spectacular, and if you’re not facing a window you are just going to have a view of the Sidings shopping centre.

“But considering it is just a minutes run from the hundreds of trains departing from Waterloo Station it is hard to complain.”

The largest Wetherspoons pub is found in Ramsgate, right next to the beach.

How can I save money at Wetherspoons?

FREE refills – Buy a £1.50 tea, coffee or hot chocolate and you can get free refills. The deal is available all day, every day.

Check a map – Prices can vary from one location the next, even those close to each other.

So if you’re planning a pint at a Spoons, it’s worth popping in nearby pubs to see if you’re settling in at the cheapest.

Choose your day – Each night the pub chain runs certain food theme nights.

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For instance, every Thursday night is curry club, where diners can get a main meal and a drink for a set price cheaper than usual.

Pick-up vouchers – Students can often pick up voucher books in their local near universities, which offer discounts on food and drink, so keep your eyes peeled.

Get appy – The Wetherspoons app allows you to order and pay for your drink and food from your table – but you don’t need to be in the pub to use it. 

Taking full advantage of this, cheeky customers have used social media to ask their friends and family to order them drinks. The app is free to download on the App Store or Google Play.

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Check the date – Every year, Spoons holds its Tax Equality Day to highlight the benefits of a permanently reduced tax bill for the pub industry.

It usually takes place in September, and last year it fell on Thursday, September 14.

As well as its 12-day Real Ale Festival every Autumn, Wetherspoons also holds a Spring Festival.

Also in Kent is the beautiful Samuel Peto – here’s what we thought when we visited.

And we’ve rounded up some of the most beautiful Wetherspoons in the country.

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A HUGE new indoor theme park is set to open just a few hours from the UK.

Bommelwereld, in Groenlo in the Netherlands, is set to open next year.

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First announced in 2022, the 9,000sqm (97,000sqft) will be set in the grounds of a new castle called Bommelstein.

The theme park is a collaboration between holiday park Marveld Recreatie and designers Jora Vision.

Based on characters from Dutch cartoonist Maarten Toonder’s books, inside will be 20 attractions.

One of the main rides will be the Bulder Baan family coaster, a 257 metre long rollercoaster with speeds up to 45km/h.

A mini flume called Razende Rommel will also be included, with the dark ride reaching highs of four metres.

Other attractions include a mini jet ride called Daverend Draken Spektakel as well as a swing caroulse. and harbour-themed area.

Sjors van Roosmalen, Creative Director at Jora Vision said it was “very special” for a theme park to be built from scratch in the Netherlands.

They said: “It is therefore extra fun to show how we went from the drawing board to a themed setting and to reveal the extraordinary line-up of attractions.”

Peter van der Schans, Executive Director and Vice President of IAAPA EMEA, added: “The Netherlands is one of the countries with the very highest density of theme parks, amusement parks and festivals.

“It is rare for an entirely new amusement park to be built.”

An official opening date, as well as ticket prices, are yet to be confirmed

For Brits to get there, Brits are best flying or getting the Eurostar to Amsterdam.

The cheapest flights are with easyJet, starting from £14.99 when flying from Bristol, Manchester or Liverpool and taking just over an hour.

Or you can get the Eurostar from London St Pancras, with tickets starting from £39 and taking just under four hours.

Groenlo is then less than two hours drive from Amsterdam.

It is also around two hours from Eindhoven, which is near Efteling, one of the Netherlands most famous theme parks.

Often compared to Disneyland, inside are storybook names like Cinderella and Tom Thumb roaming around in place of Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

Use these tips on your next theme park trip

Next time you visit a theme park, you may want to use our top tips to make the most of your adrenaline-inducing day out.

1. Go to the back of the theme park first. Rides at the front will have the longest queues as soon as it opens.
2. Go on water rides in the middle of the day in the summer – this will cool you off when the sun is at its hottest.
3. Download the park’s app to track which rides have the shortest queues.
4. Visit on your birthday, as some parks give out “birthday badges” that can get you freebies.
5. If it rains, contact the park. Depending on how much it rained, you may get a free ticket to return.

Efteling first opened in 1952 and is often ranked as one of Europe’s best theme parks alongside Europa Park in Germany and Disneyland Paris.

They recently opened a new fairytale suite at the hotel.

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A FAMILY amusement arcade in Merseyside has been voted the nation’s favourite seaside attraction.

New Palace and Adventureland in New Brighton has been at the forefront of seaside entertainment in the town for over a century.

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The funfair was built in 1939 after being commissioned by W H Wilkie, the present owner’s grandfather.

During World War Two, amusements gave way to an ammunition factory, which is still partly preserved, and the New Palace became US Army spot 0616.

Today, there’s a traditional family amusement arcade, The Bright Spot, which includes state of the art video driving, adventure and shooting simulators, dance games, as well as mini bowling and toy grabbers.

Adventureland is its indoor children’s play area, which was fully refurbished in 2003.

It’s one of the largest indoor children’s play areas in the country, with a 30ft snake slide, a 25ft climbing wall, ropes to climb, ball ponds, large inflatables and soft play areas.

New Palace and Adventureland was voted favourite seaside place and experience by the public as part of The Seaside Heritage Network’s Bucket and Spade List.

Other attractions that made the list were Vetnor Paddling Pool in the Isle of Wight and the Grand Pier in Weston-super-Mare.

The New Palace and Adventureland also offers fully-catered children’s parties in its Party Room.

And if the weather‘s good, children can enjoy the outdoor funfair, which features traditional and modern rides.

One voter for The Seaside Heritage Network’s list said they’d been visiting the New Palace since they were five years old.

They now take their grandchildren there, who also love it.

They said: “The building is iconic and very little has changed in 65 years, it is part of New Brighton’s heritage.”

Another voter noted how the attraction was from an era when New Brighton was the place to be seen.

They added: “It has everything quintessentially seaside amusements, ice cream, beach ware, cafes, and candy floss.”

David Wilkie, owner and manager of the New Palace and Adventureland, said ‘all the fun of the fair’ is one phrase that reflects the family’s commitment and dedication to providing New Brighton with an unforgettable attraction.

He said: “To be awarded first place in the Seaside Heritage Network Bucket and Spade list is the icing on the cake – not only for the resort’s tourism – past, present and future – but for all the generations who have taken the Palace to their hearts.”

No booking is required for New Palace and Adventureland, but entry for one hour is £7.50, £12 for two hours, and an all day pass is £20.

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