IF the quiet East Yorkshire town of Bridlington is good enough for Captain Mainwaring, then it is good enough for me.

Despite posing as the fictional resort of Walmington-on-Sea in the 2016 Dad’s Army film, it has remained relatively off the map as a holiday destination in the UK.

5

5

Advertisement

Cinema-goers saw Toby Jones lead a star-studded cast along the pretty High Street as the bumbling fictional Home Guard leader.

And this coastal gem has plenty to draw people in.

Placing a generous platter of scones and sandwiches on my table at The Georgian Tea Rooms, owner Katherine Furmidge tells me: “Bridlington has so much to offer — people just don’t know about it.”

She’s right.

There really is a lot going on here.

And because the town hasn’t been in the spotlight yet, it’s still great value for money.

It’s also home to some of the most undisturbed and striking walking trails in the country with miles of pathway carved into the cliffs that border a thrashing sea.

I headed to Danes Dyke, a wooded ravine cleaved in the rocks as if from a Viking’s axe — apt, as the area was invaded by the Scandis in the 8th century.

The ravine opens out on to a white pebble beach sheltered by pale cliffs and lapped by gleaming waves.

Across Flamborough Head is the majestic RSPB site Bempton Cliffs, a corner of heaven for serious bird-spotters and novices.

Puffins, dolphins, seals and owls all make seasonal homes here and when I visited, the air was thick with more gannets and fulmars than you might think possible.

I hadn’t given much thought to gannets since seeing Steve Backshall’s Deadly 60 TV series as a toddler, but it turns out watching them in flight or at rest is an almost religious experience.

Fulmars, meanwhile, are furtive little seabirds which can spit foul-smelling oil for yards.

Bridlington has the biggest lobster catch in Europe

Harry

They can also smell fish from miles away, so probably caught an envy-stirring whiff of the lobster thermidor I had for dinner back in town.

Bridlington has the biggest lobster catch in Europe, and the Salt On The Harbour restaurant is the best place to try it fresh, having served more than 500 of these crustaceans to customers this summer.

Overlooking the tethered boats, it’s a great spot to order a glass of wine and some scallop popcorn while observing the vessels which caught your meal earlier that day.

Like many joints around Bridlington, Salt On The Harbour is dog-friendly — though it would take a saintly pooch to resist swiping their owner’s dinner.

Grinning like a kid

If you’re not into fish, Highfield House, a mock-Tudor mansion in the nearby market town of Driffield, has a more varied menu plus a handful of dog and family-friendly rooms.

I dined there on my first night, tuck­ing into venison tartare, Yorkshire trout and a chocolate-coffee pud that had me grinning like a kid.

Too much gluttony calls for penitence, so the next morning my better half marched me down to Bridlington’s South Beach for an outdoor yoga class in the North Sea wind.

5

Kitted out with an England shirt and a panic-bought towel in place of a yoga mat, I wobbled, flopped and shivered through the downward dogs and tree poses — even the local OAPs were putting me to shame.

Yoga teacher Kimmy Palmer runs the Active Coast classes entirely for free over the summer months.

Come winter, East Riding ­Leisure in Bridlington has a fabulous gym with floor-to-ceiling glass overlooking the bay.

I was rewarded for my yoga efforts with one final treat (for a history fan, like me).

One stop away on the train is the market town of Beverley where you can meander around the old shipyards — much of the North Sea fishing fleet was built there, as well as some of the landing craft for D-Day.

The shipyards have now all closed but Beverley remains a fascinating spot for lovers of history with Beverley Minster, a gorgeous example of Gothic architecture at its centre, as well as St Mary’s Church.

Look out for the church’s stoney white rabbit, said to have inspired the character in Alice In Wonderland.

Alice’s white rabbit led her to Wonderland, whereas mine took me to East Yorkshire — but it was an adventure nonetheless.

5

5

JAPAN is surprisingly affordable for a family getaway now, with the Yen at a decades-long low against the Pound, making everything incredibly cheap.

With hot meals from just 85p, Disney and Universal tickets half the price of their US counterparts and return flights from £426, the country has become a long-haul option for more and more families.

4

4

Advertisement

On a wallet-friendly holiday, my wife Morgan, two-year-old daughter Lena and I explored Tokyo and Osaka, expertly guided by Inside Japan Tours.

First stop was OMO5 Otsuka, a city-break hotel in the low-key neighbourhood of Otsuka offering stylish, compact rooms.

Sword-like knives

The less-well-known Tokyo suburb is home to the Toden Arakawa Line, the city’s last remaining electric tram, which the hotel celebrates with a special kids’ room themed around the traditional trolley-cars.

OMO’s 17 affordable properties in 11 cities across Japan are about connecting guests to the community, whether that’s through the food at the cafe, the gift shop promoting local makers or tours run by the staff.

OMO Rangers are on hand to escort guests on bar crawls or foodie trips (from £4.81), helping holidaymakers see what is behind intriguing shop fronts that they might be too intimidated to visit alone.

Making the most of the inevitable jet-lag, we caught the 4am subway to the famous Tsukiji fish market.

Shouts from fishmongers pierced the salty air, mingling with the rhythmic thud of massive tuna being sectioned by sword-like knives.

Lost in translation, we stopped at one of the open-air food stalls and accidentally ordered four sticks of wagyu beef for an eye-watering £70.

Blissfully unaware she was dining on the Rolls-Royce of cows, Lena quickly devoured almost our entire holiday budget.

Next day, teamLab Planets (£18.30), an interactive art installation, offered a mind-bending digital playground that had us all channelling our inner toddler.

Shoes off, we waded into knee-deep water, squealing alongside Lena as digital koi darted between our legs and bounced through a galaxy of giant colour-changing balls.

Our favourite? A spongy, undulating floor that had us all wobbling like we were walking on the moon.

For an hour, we were all awe-struck tots in a joyful chaos where art and play merged.

Switching gears, we time-travelled from cutting-edge tech to timeless craftsmanship at the Tokyo Toy Museum (£3.85).

Housed in an old primary school, it is a tribute to traditional Japanese playthings and the art of play — and it makes for a mellow contrast to teamLab’s digital dazzle.

4

Advertisement

Best was the indoor play zone where every item is made from wood, right down to the balls in the ball pit.

From Tokyo, it took two and a half hours on the bullet train to reach Japan’s second city, Osaka, where we checked in at OMO7 Osaka.

The affordable hotel had the same winning formula as our Tokyo base but with a few extra comforts, including a full restaurant, nightly free beer and takoyaki (Osaka’s signature street food of fried batter and octopus balls).

There’s a huge outdoor green space the size of a football pitch and sleek hot baths with a hyper-modern design.

The hotel is set on the edge of the Shinsekai district, a warren of traditional cheap eateries (a hot bowl of udon at Matsuya cost just 85p) and fairground-style attractions centred around the 103-metre Tsutenkaku Tower and observation deck.

Shinsekai, or “New World”, has a charming retro atmosphere that’s come back into fashion with Japan’s Eighties nostalgia revival.

Mario, Luigi and gang

OMO7 Osaka is also popular with visitors to Universal Studios Japan, thanks to a free shuttle bus to the park and specially trained experts to help you plan your day there.

A day ticket costs £41.34, less than half the price of Universal Studios Orlando at £92.42.

Newly opened Super Nintendo World was a highlight, immersing us in an interactive universe of Mario, Luigi and their gang.

Lena fell in love with the mushroom character Toad and got a kick out of the power-up bands that let guests collect coins in an app by punching Mario’s signature blocks or completing other simple challenges around the land.

As we bid sayonara to Osaka, our hearts were full of memories and our pockets were still jingling with Yen, proving that Japan is possible on a budget.

Just mind the prices when ordering your two-year-old a steak for breakfast.

4

SCANDINAVIA’S largest waterpark is home to water slides and several pools, and return flights from the UK cost just £31.

Located in Billund in Denmark, Aquadome Billund is the largest waterpark in Scandinavia.

4

4

Advertisement

Billed as a tropical waterpark, Aquadome Billund is packed with attractions like water slides, a wave pool and jacuzzis.

There are five water slides at the Danish waterpark, including Turbo Racer and Feel the Rush, two of the park’s “lightning fast” slides.

Another one of the water slides is called Twister where park-goers are spun around a funnel before heading down the rest of the slide.

Meanwhile, the Tornado is a rubber ring ride where four family members are taken from the heights of the water park to its depths.

There’s also the wild river that takes visitors on a meander around the waterpark and Power Races were park-goers can race against each other to reach the bottom.

Aquadome Billund is also home to several pools, including an activity pool that’s been described as a “paradise” for water activities thanks to its basketball nets, balancing water lilies and dolphin play structures.

There’s also a secret cave pool where park-goers can dive under the water to spot brightly-coloured fish in a huge underwater tank that’s just metres away.

Other pools include a heated spa pool and a wave pool.

The waterpark is also home to a huge water playground with a host of activities, including giant tipping buckets and water cannons.

For younger visitors, there’s also a baby pool and a children’s pool for visitors aged five and under.

Adults can unwind in the infrared sauna.

Other on-site facilities include a changing area, a food court, a food terrace and a pavilion that serves snacks and other refreshments.

Aquadome Billund has been praised by visitors on TripAdvisor, with a 4/5 star rating on TripAdvisor from over 600 reviews.

One person wrote: “A great place, especially for small children, as the majority of the room and slides in Aquadome are dedicated to them.”

A second person added: “I’m not sure I’ve ever seen so many slides! This place makes Lalandia.”

While a third wrote: “A great day out for all the family.”

4

Aquadome Billund is part of Lalandia Billund, a holiday centre with an on-site holiday park and other adventure park areas.

Other themed areas inside the holiday centre include Winter World, with an ice rink, a climbing wall, a toboggan run and a brand-new ride called Sky Rider that gives park-goers an aerial view of the festive world.

There’s also Monky Tonky Land – an indoor play area with trampolines, ball pitches and a Lego area.

Other areas include a sports and fitness facility, a games and bowling area and an entertainment venue with children’s shows and family karaoke.

Outside there’s also an adventure park with a 16m-high tower complete with balancing trials, a zipline and a viewing terrace.

Lalandia in Billund is just a five-minute walk from Legoland Billund.

Holidaymakers can book to stay overnight at one of the on-site holiday homes that can sleep up to eight people.

Visitors who prefer to stay elsewhere can book day tickets to Lalandia Billund.

Entry costs just under £38 per person.

Direct flights operate from London and Manchester to Billund, with return fares starting from £31 in November.

Flights take just 90 minutes.

Meanwhile, this is what it’s like to go down the world’s tallest and fastest waterslide.

And this award-winning waterpark has the UK’s biggest wave pool.

4

GOOGLE Flights have revealed a new tool that will help holidaymakers find the cheapest plane ticket.

The new booking feature, which was announced earlier this week, will help passengers find the cheapest fares.

2

Holidaymakers who already use Google Flights to find airfares will know that the search engine displays the ‘best options’ at the top of the results page.

These deals are normally direct flights that fly to and from the most convenient airport, although they’re not always the cheapest options.

Google Flights‘ latest feature, which is being rolled out across the platform this week, will have an option to display the cheapest flights.

A blog post from Google reads: “But sometimes, there might be cheaper options available for those of you who are willing to give up some convenience for the best deal.

“For example, there could be a third-party booking site offering a lower price than the airline itself.

“Or you might be able to save by flying back to a different airport that’s in the same city you departed from — like flying out of New York’s LaGuardia and returning to JFK.”

In order to find the cheapest flights, passengers will need to click on the “cheapest” tab on the search engine to see if there are any better deals to be had.

In order to bag the cheapest flights, holidaymakers may need to be more creative with their itineraries by opting for longer layovers, self-transfers or purchasing flights with multiple airlines.

By using this new feature, holidaymakers will need to decide whether the cost savings are worth the hassle.

It is hoped that the new Google Flights feature will help budget travellers find the best bargains.

The news comes just weeks after Google Flights introduced a refund feature that offers travellers the lowest price guarantee when booking certain flights.

Google announced: “No one likes to feel buyer’s remorse, and that’s especially true for a big purchase like plane tickets where the prices change from day to day.”

The new tool enables travellers to determine whether the price of their trip is low, high, or average for their planned trip.

Jetsetters can also set flexible dates to find the cheapest time to book.

However, if the price drops between the time of purchase and take-off, Google will pay the difference via Google Pay.

The refund policy will only apply to flights that are booked with Google and departing from the US.

Travellers should ensure there is a price guarantee badge before purchasing a ticket otherwise, they won’t be eligible for a refund if the price drops before takeoff.

Cheap Airfares

Earlier this year, a travel expert revealed the “sweet spot” for flights to get cheap fares.

Jack Sheldon, flight expert at Jacksflightclub.com, said the best time to bag the cheapest flight tickets is between six to 12 weeks before taking off.

Flyers can get an absolute bargain deal while following the hack – and can save up to 50 per cent on flight tickets.

Booking a flight midweek instead of a weekend – when airports can be really busy – can also help you save some extra cash which you can splash on your vacation instead.

Gavin Lapidus, travel agent and director of multi-centre holiday specialists eShores, said Monday to Wednesday is the best time of the week to board a cheap flight.

If you’re flexible with your dates, always double-check departure days, as flying a day sooner or later could save you up to 20 per cent.

The travel expert has shared a number of tips around saving cash when booking your holiday.

However, travellers are advised not to overlook travel agents as lots of them specialise in finding the best value trips for customers.

Condé Nast Traveller’s fashion editor Charlotte Davey gave a word of advice when booking future flights.

2

AN ABANDONED UK airport that once offered budget flights to Spain and Cyprus has revealed plans to re-open after a two-year closure.

Doncaster Sheffield Airport shut in 2022 after Wizz Air confirmed it would terminate the majority of its flights from the airport.

1

The airport, also known as the Robin Hood Airport, is located in Finningley near Doncaster and previously served millions of travellers heading to holiday destinations.

It opened to passengers in 2005 and was one of only two commercial international airports in Yorkshire.

Within its first year, it became the 23rd largest airport in the UK, and by 2007, it had served an impressive 2.28 million passengers.

The first commercial flight from Doncaster Sheffield Airport was to Palma de Majorca, and it has since flown travellers to destinations across Greece, Portugal, and France.

The airport’s reopening is expected to delight nearby residents, who will be eager to once again use the popular travel hub.

Mayor Ros Jones stated that she intends to keep “councillors, residents, and businesses updated” as plans progress to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

She added: “The procurement of an operator is in its final stages of due diligence, we have regular meetings with investors, businesses and airlines.

“We have submitted a Statement of Need to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in relation to re-establishing our airspace, this will soon be publicly available via the CAA website, I cannot emphasise enough the importance of retaining our airspace, our MPs continue to engage with the Aviation Minister in relation to this.”

Mark Chadwick, a garage owner, is part of the Save Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) campaign.

He revealed that a major announcement regarding the airport’s reopening is expected in the coming weeks and encouraged people to sign a petition advocating for the reinstatement of the airport’s airspace.

The garage owner stated that the council was in discussions with potential operators and urged campaign members to remain patient as due diligence is conducted.

He said: “The purpose of due diligence is to mitigate risks, ensure legal compliance, and contribute to effective decision-making.

“So please be patient. And as my dear mum used to say “if you’ve nothing nice to say please don’t say anything!”

THE AIRPORT’S FUTURE

Doncaster Council signed a new 125-year lease on the travel hub earlier this year, while a new operator is expected to be named soon.

What’s more, millions of pounds worth of grants have been approved for the airport, while airlines have expressed an eagerness to return to its runways.

And last week, Three MPs from Doncaster met the new Aviation Minister Mike Kane to discuss the airport’s future.

The minister revealed that he is working with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on its reopening and on reopening its airspace, to allow planes to land and take off.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, MP for Doncaster East and Axholme Lee Pitcher said: “Pleased to have met the Minister for Aviation & his team to discuss opening the airspace above Doncaster when needed – There was a strong commitment.

“Pleased to hear that the team are working closely with the CAA already to help allow the airspace to be available when required.”

Pitcher was joined in the meeting by Doncaster North MP Ed Miliband and Doncaster Central MP Sally Jameson.

The trio had previously written to the Aviation Minister to put forward the case for the airport’s reopening, urging him to prevent it becoming a “long and convoluted process”.

Their letter, published by Doncaster Free Press, reads: “As time is of the essence in our determination to re-open the airport, we strongly request that you as Aviation Minister intervene in preventing a long and convoluted new process that could place the airport; its operator and the airlines and freight companies at risk.

“A number of airline operators have already indicated a desire to commence operations at the Airport and it is likely that this will include a mix of low-cost, charter and full-service operators.

“Once the airport operator has been finalised in September, plans will be drawn up to re-commence general and business aviation traffic, with passenger operations to follow.”

Included in those airlines hoping to fly from the airport once it reopens is TUI, which confirmed earlier this year that it wants to use the hub again in the future.

The carrier was one of several that used to use the airport, which offered flights to places like Spain, Cyprus, Poland and Romania.

A TUI spokesperson previously said: “TUI has always supported Doncaster Sheffield Airport, proudly flying customers from the region and were disappointed when the airport closed.

“We’re excited about actively engaging with stakeholders about a potential re-opening”.

The Sun has contacted Sheffield council and save DSA for comment.

ONE of the best airlines in the world has revealed their brand new cabins – with better seats in economy.

Cathay Pacific was named the fifth best airline in the world earlier this year in the SkyTrax Awards.

4

4

Advertisement

4

It also won World’s Best Economy this year, as well as World’s Cleanest Airline.

Cathay Group CEO Ronald Lam saying they were “extremely encouraged” after moving up from the top 10 to the top five for being one of the top airlines.

And launching this month are new cabins on their Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

The economy cabin is being “refreshed” with new seat covers as well as improved ergonomics.

The inflight entertainment interface has been improved, while the headrests are now flexible.

Premium Economy upgrades include padded footrests, leather headrests and 12.6 inch 4K screens.

The privacy features have been improved with “wings” and dividers between the seats.

Reading lights, cocktail tables and extra storage are also part of the new designs.

The premium economy passengers also get their own bathrooms on the flight, with touchless flush, taps and bins.

And Cathay Pacific is rolling out their Aria Suite in business class.

The “crown jewel” of business class, new suite doors have been introduced for the first time.

The doors are similar to ones on other airlines such as Qatar Airways and British Airways.

The suites also have 24 inch TV screens, wireless charging and fancy suede walls and wool seats.

There are even new storage designs which have cabinets and drawers, with headphone hooks, drink trays and personal mirrors.

Brits can fly with Cathay Pacific on flights from London Heathrow and Manchester to Hong Kong.

Flights start from £670 return, taking around 11 hours.

Another airline recently revealed their new cabin designs.

Delta connects the UK to the US with flights from London Heathrow, London Gatwick and Edinburgh.

What is it like to go to Hong Kong?

Advertisement

Cathay Pacific connects the UK to Hong Kong – and the Sun’s Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey visited.

“Hong Kong is a great stopover destination between trips to Australia and New Zealand.

“It’s easy to get around — the Metro is simpler than the London Underground and you can even hop on a “ding ding,” one of the many double-decker trams.

“There are amazing bars to choose from – Ozone is the the highest rooftop bar in the world while the Quinary was named one of the best bars in Asia.

“Escape the city for a day to Sai Kung, an hour away and called the “back garden of Hong Kong” although even reminded me of Hawaii.

Advertisement

“If you want to stay, then the most famous is the country’s oldest hotel, The Peninsula.

“Dating back to 1928 and dubbed the Grand Dame of the East, it has since opened a hotel in London.”

Being introduced on their Boeing 757 planes, improvements are being rolled out in economy, premium economy and business class.

And we went to see what to expect from British Airways’ mega £7billion makeover of the entire airline – here’s what you can expect.

4