BUDGET airline Ryanair is set to launch more flights from Norwich to Alicante, marking its first-ever winter schedule from the tiny UK airport.

In April this year, the budget carrier started operating from Norwich Airport for the first time.

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Following on from the success of the summer service between Norwich Airport and Alicante, the no-frills airline has decided to extend the duration of the route.

The twice-weekly service will operate every Monday and Saturday throughout the winter.

Monday morning flights will depart from Alicante at 8.20am before touching down in the UK at 10am.

Return flights will then leave Norwich Airport at 10.30am, landing in Alicante at 2.10pm later that day.

Saturday flights will operate one hour earlier, leaving the Spanish airport at 7.20am local time.

Sun Online Travel have found return fares for £49.98 in November when temperatures will be as high as 20C in the Spanish holiday hotspot.

Jade Kirwan, Ryanair’s Head of Comms, said: “We are pleased to announce our first ever Winter schedule at Norwich which will see the extension of our popular Alicante route into the Winter 2024 season, giving customers in the Norfolk region more choice for their Winter sun breaks at Europe’s lowest fares in Europe, and supporting important regional development through continued connectivity, inbound tourism, and local jobs.

“We’ve had a strong first Summer of operations at Norwich and we look forward to a strong first Winter season ahead.”

The news comes after Richard Pace, the Managing Director at Norwich Airport said that he was hoping to see at least two or three more flights added to the airport’s route map in time for summer 2025.

In an interview with BBC Radio Norfolk, he spoke of the success of the first few months of flights from Norwich Airport and said he would know more about the future routes from next month.

There is no indication of where the new routes will travel to, or when they will begin.

He said that “both commercially and operationally” things were going well at Norwich, claiming that all flights boasted a capacity of 90 per cent or more. 

He then added: “I think I’d like to see another two or three routes next summer added to what we’ve already got, and we’ll know that hopefully in September.

“All the signs, the way we perform, the way that the customers have supported Norwich… I see no reason why we won’t see additional capacity for next summer.”

It has already been a big year for Norwich, with the city named as one of Time Out’s top places to visit in 2024.

The travel magazine praised the Boards National Park, its two cathedrals, as well Norwich Castle – set to unveil a £10m makeover in 2024.

Ryanair is launching several other new routes from small regional airports across the UK.

New Ryanair Routes

Earlier this year, the budget carrier confirmed four new routes would be launching from the UK later this year.

Flying from London Stansted Airport, the new routes include Dubrovnik, Linz, Reggio and Sarajevo.

All four will be launching for winter 2024, giving Brit holidaymakers a wider choice of winter destinations.

Most Brits will have heard of Dubrovnik, with the Croatian city being dubbed the Pearl of the Adriatic and loved by Game of Thrones fans after it was used as a filming location.

Linz is a city in Austria, which sits between Salzburg and Vienna on the Danube River.

Not only is it known for its huge graffiti attraction and Old Town, but it is home to the oldest cake in the world, the Linzer Torte.

Italy‘s Reggio is set to get more popular with Brits, with the first direct flights to the city launched by Ryanair earlier this year, from Manchester Airport.

But the new Ryanair flights will make flying to the coastal city easier from the UK capital.

And Sarajevo, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is often overlooked despite being home to cheap beers and food.

Flights already operate to the city from both London Stansted and London Luton, with Ryanair and Wizz Air, respectively.

Other new Ryanair routes include Newcastle to Marrakech in October.

Earlier this year, Jet2 confirmed that a new route will operate between Manchester Airport and Porto.

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A VILLAGE in Northamptonshire full of historic attractions and home to a famous gin has now been put on the map for another reason. 

Harrington is a small village situated on the River Ise surrounded by beautiful countryside. 

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Among the things it’s famous for is The Tollemache Arms pub, which has just been crowned Great British Pub of the Year and Best Country Pub in the 2024 Great British Pub Awards. 

The 17th century pub describes itself as “quintessentially British”. 

Nicknamed ‘The Tolly’ by the owners and locals, the pub has recently been refurbished and offers a tasty menu with everything from sharing platters to handmade pizzas within a cosy setting.

In the summer, customers can enjoy drinks in its spacious garden. In winter, there’s a log fire to get cosy next to.

One customer that visited the pub in June this year wrote on Tripadvisor: “Cannot rate this lovely place highly enough. Amazing from start to finish.

“The welcome we got was the best I have probably ever had in a small pub.”

Among the drinks on offer at The Tolly is Warner’s gin, which gin fans may be familiar with.

Available to buy from Waitrose online, the gin is made at the Warner’s Distillery just down the road.

It’s produced in a 200 year old barn by husband and wife team Tom and Tina.

There’s a farm shop at the distillery selling all Warner’s products, which includes rhubarb gin and apple and pear gin.

Customers can also immerse themselves in a tasting tour, which includes a drink on arrival, tasting of its gins, rums, and other spirits, and a walking tour of the farm.

Harrington is also famed for its historic sites, such as Harrington Aviation Museum.

The museum, also known as the Carpetbagger Aviation Museum, is a great place to visit for those interested in World War II aviation history.

Highlights include a rare look at the secret work of the British Special Operations Executive from their RAF base at Tempsford.

Just a 15 minute drive away, families can enjoy sheep and piglet racing at West Lodge Farm Park.

The racing takes place daily and is a favourite attraction for those who visit regularly.

Visitors are even invited to try their hand at pig herding.

There are also a variety of beautiful walks and trails to enjoy around the farm, pony rides, and the chance to hold rabbits, guinea pigs, chicks and ducklings at certain times of year.

The farm is complete with an adventure playground, adventure golf, ride on tractors, and a ‘Barrell Ride’, which does a double circuit of the outdoor play area, making it the perfect day out for families with kids.

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DUNDEE has been named the most underrated city to visit in Scotland, thanks to attractions like watersports in the quay and Scotland’s first design museum.

Travel guide creator Peter Naldrett, who has visited all 76 cities in the UK, raved about Dundee.

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The Sheffield-based writer says Dundee, with its 150,000 residents, more than holds its own as a city break destination against the likes of Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Peter, who wrote the book Bright Lights, Big Cities, told Sun Online Travel: “Dundee is the most underrated city in Scotland for tourists to visit, thanks to its brilliant museums.

“Not only is it the birthplace of famous comic books like The Beano and Dandy, it’s also home to the ship that took Shackleton to Antarctica.

“Dundee has a really nice feel thanks to its river and waterfront where there are loads of attractions to keep families entertained.”

Must-see museums

The Discovery Point is a TripAdvisor Travellers‘ Choice Award Winner and one of the city’s top attractions.

Inside the sprawling museum, visitors will be able to learn about the history of whaling and explore Royal Research Ship Discovery, the vessel Ernest Shackleton and Captain Scott used to sail to Antarctica.

The 123-year-old ship underwent a £1.4million conservation project to keep the historic vessel well-preserved for future generations.

Entry tickets into the Discovery Point cost £17 for a full-paying adult and £9.50 for kids.

Dundee Science Centre is another TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award Winner.

Home to interactive exhibits and immersive experiences there’s enough to keep the entire family entertained.

There’s also V&A Dundee, which is thought to be the “flagship of the city’s regeneration”.

Located in the heart of Dundee’s redeveloped waterfront, V&A Dundee became Scotland’s first design museum when it opened in 2018.

Free to enter, visitors will be able to learn about the history of Scottish design as well as making the most of the family-friendly drop-in sessions.

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Watersports and waterparks

Not only does the Scottish city sing about its history but it also makes the most of its river and quay, offering a whole host of activities and attractions for its visitors.

One of those is Wild Shore Dundee, a water-based adventure hub with an aqua park, stand-up paddleboarding and open water city.

For those who prefer to keep their feet on the ground, Alastair Derrick is a tour guide who runs Dundee Waterfront Walks.

Lasting for 75 minutes, Alastair takes visitors for a short walk along the waterfront while detailing 400 million years of Dundee’s history.

There’s also the Olympia, a leisure centre that underwent a £6million refurb.

In addition to the usual indoor pools, the Dundee-based leisure centre also has a rapid river and four flume rides, including the Cannonball, which has a 3.8m drop into the water.

For younger holidaymakers, there’s also a toddler pool with a water play structure, a water wall, tipping buckets, a water cannon and a water slide.

Nearby there’s also Broughty Ferry Beach, which is nestled beneath a historic castle in the former fishing village of Broughty Ferry.

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Outdoor experiences

There are plenty of activities and attractions that are away from the water, including Dundee Botanic Garden.

Spanning across 9.5 hectares, the garden is home to a wide range of plants and shrubs as well as tropical glasshouses, a water garden and a herb garden.

There’s also Balnuith Alpacas, which is located on the very edge of Dundee.

The Scottish farm is home to rare breeds of farm animals like Miniature Mediterranean Donkeys, Falabella Miniature Horses, Poitou Donkeys, Guanacos and often newborn babies.

Fans of the Beano and Dandy will want to take photos next to the statues of famous comic book characters like Dennis the Menace, Desperate Dan and Minnie the Minx.

Head to the High Street to get started, with other statues on Albert Square.

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Food and drink

Scotland’s most underrated city is home to plenty of pubs here adults can sink a pint – and kids are welcome.

One of those places is Tickety Boo’s, a traditional boozer that serves a range of hearty meals.

There’s also The Fisherman’s Tavern, located just a stone’s throw from the waterfront and housed in a row of 17th-century cottages, it’s the perfect calling point for a day at the waterfront.

Gidi Grill serves West African and Caribbean Cuisine and is one of Dundee’s top restaurants.

Other top-rated spots include Wee Mexico, Agacan and Rancho Pancho.

Last week, Peter explained why Brits should visit Salford – tiny cultural powerhouse on the outskirts of Greater Manchester.

And we’ve recently revealed our favourite spots for a September break.

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