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The Sun
25 minutes ago
- The Sun
Little-known theme park is one of the best in the UK with barely any queues and new alpaca walks
FOUND below one of the UK's highest mountain ranges is a theme park with a human-powered rollercoaster and a solar-powered splash. While GreenWood family park located in Y Felinheli, below Mount Snowdon in North Wales, does not feature high-tech rides you'd expect to find at Thorpe Park, the little-known attraction claims to have "something for everyone". 5 Whilst it sounds impossible, this includes the Green Dragon Rollercoaster - the world's only human-powered coaster. Visitors must head on a funicular that takes them to a lower station, but in turn the weight of the cabin full of passengers brings the empty rollercoaster up to a higher station. The riders will then walk from the lower funicular station, back up the hill to the rollercoaster that then uses gravity to propel itself along the 250 metre track and 360-degree horizontal loop. The park also has the first solar-powered ride in the UK, which features a two-chute water slide around 60 metres long. Solar panels that generate electricity are used to power the water pumps for this ride. Unusual attractions in the park don't stop there though - the park has the Enchanted River Ride as well, where riders propel themselves along a river using ropes and paddle, seeing mystical creatures as they go. For a sensory experience there is the BareFoot Trail, dubbed to be the first of its kind in Wales. Visitors walk barefoot through different terrains including sand, straw, timber and water. Elsewhere at the TripAdvisor Traveller's Choice Award 2025 attraction, visitors can also head on a dry version of sledging, TreeTop Towers with netted walkways and tube slides and the Forest Glider - a 75 metre 'slide' in rubber rings. Smaller children can enjoy the Tunnel Warren, Dragon Maze, mini diggers and tractors and a giant jumping pillow as well. At Cwtch Corner, families can interact with farm animals and learn about their habitats, including goats, ducks, pigs, guinea pigs and rabbits. New for this year, the park also has some alpacas that families can opt to go on a walk with through the 17 acre forest park, by booking in advance. Don't miss the Snowdon View Point either, with panoramic views of Wales ' largest mountain range. And if the weather isn't ideal, then the park has an indoor Enchanted WoodBarn with soft play and a special area for children under the age of three. You do need to pay a fee to access the soft play, which is £3.50 per adult and £6 per child. Inside the WoodBarn is a cafe as well, selling family favourites like Welsh beef burgers for £11.80 and jacket potatoes from £7.25. For parents wanting a brew whilst the kids play, coffee and tea aren't expensive, ranging between £3.20 and £4.20. 5 If out and about in the park, there are food shacks as well, like Snowdon Snacks that serves a range of hot food including hot dogs and has a covered seating area. Or you could head to the Forest and Solar Treat Shacks for sweet treats including ice cream. Until the end of August the family park is running the 'Festival of Fun' with live music and entertainment such as circus skills workshops and arts and crafts sessions - all included in the ticket price. Make sure to check out a show, including magic acts, at the Forest Theatre too. Admission costs £25 for guests over one metre tall and £10 for those under a metre tall. Though, if you book through Picniq, you can grab tickets for £20 for visitors over a metre tall, and £7.50 for those under a metre tall. Or you could purchase a group of four tickets, for guests all over one metre tall, for £74. One visitor recently said on TripAdvisor: "[There's] something for everyone, from toddlers to teens (and adults too!) Another added: "It's a fun, affordable, and genuinely enriching day out for all ages, and we'll definitely be back if we are in the area." 5 A third noted: "We didn't really queue for anything." The main park is open between 10am and 5pm each day. Visitors can also extend their stay at the park, by staying at the GreenWood Tipi Glamping. The site features hot showers and a fully-equipped communal kitchen. Inside the tipis, guests will find a log burner and real beds. Then outside each tipi is a barbeque and a seating area. Four of the tipis sleep up to six people and the remaining two sleep up to four people and a one-night stay starts from £95. There's no need to leave your four-legged friend at home either, as each family is allowed "two well-behaved dogs" for a fee of £30 per dog. Using GreenWood as a base, there are plenty of other areas to explore nearby including Mount Snowdon itself, Zip World and Conwy Castle. The nearby village of Y Felinheli, sits on the Menai Strait submerged valley and has some pubs and cafes to explore as well. Wales is a great holiday destination with great family attractions for all types of British weather. Plus, Wales is home to the UK's biggest underground 'theme park' in caves – and it's twice the size of St Paul's. 5
The Guardian
25 minutes ago
- The Guardian
From wasteland to tourist attraction: Everton's new home set to turbo-charge change
Builders were working on the signage high up on Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday while renovations were being carried out inside one of the bars opposite Everton's magnificent new ground. It would have been a predictable scene of final preparations for the first league game at the £800m venue but for an unusual sight in this part of town: holidaymakers. They were cruise-ship passengers to be precise, dozens of them. Instead of disembarking the Regal Princess and turning right towards the Royal Albert Dock and city centre when it docked in Liverpool, as one might expect, they had turned left and walked 20 to 25 minutes along Regent Road to visit the finest new addition to the Premier League. They would have sailed past it on entering the River Mersey too. No wonder Everton plan to sell stadium and dockland tours on board cruise-ships in the near future. Not so long ago you would have advised tourists against walking through the industrial wasteland that was – and still is, in many sections – this part of north Liverpool. Nothing to see here apart from scrap metal merchants, disused docks and the empty shells of pubs that once thronged with business. You either drove through Regent Road or worked there. But as the builders, the bars, the new apartments, and even something as simple as new street lighting indicate, life is slowly starting to return to this area. While acknowledging the impact of The Titanic Hotel and the creatives in the Ten Streets area, Everton's stadium is the catalyst for that change. It has been an arduous journey to get to this point, and one that almost derailed Everton financially. But 22 years after the collapse of Everton's dreams to relocate to a world-class waterfront stadium at Kings Dock, and eight years since Bramley-Moore Dock was first identified as the club's preferred site for a new home, the saga will feel worthwhile on Sunday when Hill Dickinson Stadium hosts its first competitive game, against Brighton. There has been some criticism of the construction in the run-up to a momentous occasion for Everton and the city of Liverpool for costing the latter its Unesco world heritage status. The criticism is spectacularly misplaced, and not merely because Unesco warned Liverpool city council over unimpressive developments that had been built along the waterfront long before Everton's proposal got off the ground. Bramley-Moore Dock was abandoned for decades prior to Everton's arrival. To give an idea of the neglect, there were 12 unexploded anti-aircraft shells from the second world war at the bottom of the dock when Everton took possession of the site. And Bramley-Moore could only be viewed through a locked gate at the time. World heritage status did nothing for these docklands. Now a stadium designed by the US architect Dan Meis to reflect tradition and modernity – four brick-clad stands in keeping with nearby warehouses, topped by a futuristic curved barrel roof – stands proudly on the banks of the Mersey. The ship has finally and truly come in for the owners of The Bramley Moore Hotel, which somehow survived in splendid isolation for years before gaining a Premier League neighbour, although it now has company from several bars that have popped up opposite the stadium recently. One is The Terrace, which was home to a tyre company until 18 months ago when the new owners embarked on a major transformation of the three-floor premises. It will employ 28 people on Sunday, staff and security included. The Liverpool Waterfront North councillor Dave Hanratty raised concerns at a recent licensing meeting that 'the only investment we're getting at the moment is alcohol-licenced premises'. One business had a licence denied at the meeting on safety grounds, but Becki Heron, manager of The Terrace, says: 'I think this area will become its own village, its own hub. You'll start to see restaurants popping up, takeaways, shops, obviously more pubs. Two years max and it will be unrecognisable. 'A lot of land around here has been bought by developers to turn into residential but the people who have managed to snag a spot here are set for life. There will be shops on this block soon. There is nothing around here at the minute. The nearest shop is a six-minute drive or a 25-minute walk away. It is in everyone's best interests that it takes off. I'm getting a Baltic Market-type vibe and that would be brilliant. 'Don't get me wrong, I don't think we'll be getting a Marks & Spencer opening up next door, but the area will play to its strengths and with Everton getting a licence to host concerts that will also help.' Heron is speaking on the rooftop of The Terrace, which offers a stunning view of Hill Dickinson Stadium and the outdoor plaza that can hold events for 17,000 people. The bar also overlooks the huge wastewater treatment works situated next to Everton's new home. Gentrification will have its limits here. Hanratty wants the council to ensure 'we have the right balance' in an area that contains plans for Liverpool Waters, the long-awaited development scheme from the landowner Peel Holdings. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Beyond residents of The Tobacco Warehouse at Stanley Dock, however, few people currently live in the vicinity of Hill Dickinson Stadium. The ground is in one of the most deprived wards in the country but there are development plans for the area between Bramley-Moore Dock and the city centre, and the hope is Everton's presence will accelerate them. The club's American owner, The Friedkin Group, also has eyes on developing Nelson Dock next door. Everton have staged three test events to obtain a safety certificate for the 52,769-capacity venue (it was going to be 52,888 before seats were removed to accommodate TV cameras and install more barriers between home and away supporters). The main issues at the stadium have been large queues to get in and to buy food and drink. Stock ran low at the near-capacity test event against Roma and there were delays at the turnstiles caused by fans not downloading tickets in advance. Both problems can be ironed out over time. Outside the stadium transport has caused the biggest headache, but there was a noticeable improvement for the Roma game thanks to more shuttle buses, more frequent and larger trains and new parking measures. 'I think we've got into a good place, but there is still more we are going to focus on improving over the next couple of weeks and beyond,' admitted the council leader, Liam Robinson. 'I'm sure over the season ahead little things will keep on popping up because it's new for everyone.' Bill Kinsella attended the first two test events and has a season ticket for the South Stand, a steep bank of 14,000 seats that is the home end. 'It is a fantastic stadium, so modern,' said the Evertonian from Bootle. 'It's what the club need to generate more income to fight against the top six and take us into a higher bracket'. Kinsella was there on Monday to buy an Everton baseball cap to protect his head as he undergoes medical treatment. 'Sunday will be a historic moment for the club,' he added. 'I'm not sure what the atmosphere will be like because people will be getting used to a new stadium but it will pick up as the season goes on. It's all new. 'People are saying: 'What about the transport?' But you find your way in the end. I live in Bootle and can get a bus or the train but, while I'm a bit incapacitated, my family have made arrangements with the club to drop me off as near as they can and I'll walk from there. I've got loads of mates who will be here to look after me. I'm really excited. The excitement will get me there.' Everton will celebrate their first league match at Hill Dickinson Stadium but are mindful they cannot distract from the serious business of trying to win a Premier League game. The manager, David Moyes, said before the opening game of the season, against Leeds on Monday, that while Everton have done brilliantly to build a new stadium, the task now is to build a football club inside it. 'We are a long way off at the moment,' admitted Moyes. His team's performance in defeat at Elland Road confirmed as much. But Hill Dickinson Stadium heralds a fresh start for a football club and an area that have seen better days. Everton's first league game at Anfield was a 2-1 win over Accrington (not Stanley) on 8 September 1888. Their first league game at Goodison Park was a 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest on 3 September 1892. Sunday 24 August 2025 starts a new chapter.
Daily Mail
25 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
I drank Guinness in 400 pubs across Europe - here are the best and worst I've had
A woman who visited hundreds of pubs across Europe to drink Guinness has revealed where the best and worst pints were. Sarah Love, 38, claims she isn't a 'typical girly girl' and instead of cocktails and wine, opts for the iconic Irish beer. Over the past four years, she's trekked 10,000 miles across 12 countries to find out if Guinness tastes just as good outside of Ireland. The ongoing quest, which began in Glasgow in 2020, has seen Sarah visit 400 different pubs, and spend £2,000 on the stout, Luxury Travel Daily reports. From the UK and Ireland to Germany, Slovakia, Denmark and Hungary, the Scot has sipped in a range of locations. 'I wanted to see if I could find any pints that were as good as an Irish pint, outside of Ireland,' Sarah told the publication. However, Sarah discovered that Guinness doesn't seem to travel very well, and many of her worst pints were overseas. Perhaps unsurprisingly, many of the Guinness mega-fan's best experiences were in Ireland. Over the past four years, she's trekked 10,000 miles across 12 countries to find out if Guinness tastes just as good outside of Ireland The Railway Bar, in Bundoran, Ireland topped Sarah's list, followed by Bittles Bar in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Another Northern Ireland venue, The Garrick in Belfast, placed third, while a Scottish free house, The Brazen Head in Glasgow, came fourth. Ranking fifth, Mulligans in Manchester impressed Sarah with their pints. Meanwhile, Sarah had some disappointing experiences drinking Guinness overseas. The Goblin Pub in Bratislava, Slovakia, proved to be the worst for Sarah, who wasn't impressed with the pint she guzzled there. A glass of Guinness at The Ackhorne in York apparently made her 'gag', while the third worst was on the DFDS Princess Seaways Ferry to Amsterdam from Newcastle. McNeills in Glasgow didn't leave Sarah wanting another pint and the Black Rose Tavern in Edinburgh didn't nail the Guinness either. Along the way, Sarah has built up expertise on what a 'perfect pint' consists of. She revealed it should 'have hints of coffee and chocolate and should have a creamy aftertaste'. 'The temperature, I don't like it too cold, I prefer my pints warmer as it gives more flavour,' Sarah added. While the cleanliness of the glass also impacts the taste, as well as how the pint is poured. 'Should be approximately two minutes between starting the first pour, leaving it to settle and then finishing the second pour,' Sarah explained. When being poured, the glass should be tilted 45 degrees until it reaches around three-quarters full. A domed head is also essential, as well as being not too big, or too small. Finally, the pint must be poured in a Guinness branded glass to give the complete experience. It comes as, after years of eager anticipation, Guinness fans in the UK can finally toast to the opening of a new attraction in London later this year. A new Guinness microbrewery is set to open its doors in Covent Garden before Christmas. The £73 million venue spans 50,000sq ft across five buildings, and will feature various food and drink outlets, a glass rooftop with panoramic views, events spaces and a merchandise shop. The brewery will serve up 14 different limited-edition brews, including no and low alcohol options, offering a unique tasting experience for fans of the black stuff. While actual Guinness won't be brewed on-site, the iconic Irish stout will be readily available for drinking.
