5 travel experiences worth booking this summer
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
IF you've been itching for an excuse to get out and explore this summer, this might be your sign to start planning some fun travel experiences.
Whether you're craving an adrenaline-fuelled getaway or a little bit of luxury closer to home, there's something out there for everyone.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
To help kickstart your summer bucket list, we've rounded up five brilliant travel experiences worth booking now, and there's something for every thrill seeker or family to enjoy while the sun's out.
Whatever vibe you're after this summer, our top five picks deliver on fun and plenty of adventure.
The best news? You don't have to leave the country (or break the bank) for any of these feel-good experiences.
Bug Jam Festival - Santa Pod Raceway
5
A must for motorsport fans
Credit: BUG JAM FESTIVAL
Book Bug Jam Festival
Looking for a new experience? There's nothing like a festival to tickle all of your interests.
Now in its 38th year, Bug Jam Festival at Santa Pod Raceway is a summer must for motorsport fans, music lovers, and festival-goers alike.
The weekend is packed with live drag racing, monster truck shows, comedy, family-friendly fun, and four music stages featuring acts like Noasis and Rick Parfitt Jr.
Kids aren't left out, there is a dedicated Little Buggerz zone with activities, inflatables and Bug Jam Beach. Children under five also get free entry.
This year's fancy dress theme is: Games!
From classic board games to video game heroes, let your creativity level up and bring your favourite characters to life!
Weekend camping is included with all weekend admission tickets, and track action ranges from Jet Car demos to Run What Ya Brung racing for VW owners. Get full event information here.
Hippodrome Circus
5
One of Britain's most historic venues
Credit: Hippodrome Circus
Book tickets
Why not experience the magic of the Hippodrome Circus?
It's an ideal trip for the whole family to enjoy this summer.
The Hippodrome Circus is one of Britain's most historic and atmospheric venues.
This summer, the famous stage will be lighting up for Around the World, a brand-new international circus spectacular from Jack Jay and Johnny Mac.
Running from July 9 to September 14, it's a show packed with thrills, laughs and jaw-dropping moments that's suitable for all ages.
Families can expect high-energy performances from across the globe, including death-defying motorbike stunts, dazzling jugglers, acrobats, and gravity-defying aerialists.
One of the major highlights includes a breathtaking Water Spectacular, featuring synchronised swimmers in the venue's iconic sinking ring.
Upham Inns: Boutique countryside pubs with rooms
5
Escape to the English countryside
Credit: upham inns
Get 15% off stays with code: BOOKDIRECT
Escape to one of Upham Inns' charming countryside stays for a luxury staycation and a slower pace.
Upham Inns' charming collection of country pubs with comfortable guest rooms is set in some of Southern England's most picturesque spots.
Guests can stay cosy by the fire during the chillier months, or soak up the sun in the pretty gardens and terraces in the summer.
From the New Forest and South Downs to the Surrey Hills and Winchester, these cosy inns provide the perfect getaway.
The beautiful countryside locations mean guests can enjoy scenic pub walks, visit local attractions, and enjoy plenty of local cuisine, with menus celebrating fresh, seasonal country cooking.
Book direct for the best rates and use code BOOKDIRECT to save 15% off your stay.
Plus, if you show this article at check-in, you'll receive a complimentary bottle of prosecco in your room.
Bluebell Railway
5
Book a steam train adventure
Credit: Bluebell railway
Book your next visit
Step back in time with a steam train adventure through the beautiful Sussex countryside on the Bluebell Railway.
More than just a train ride, visitors can hop on and off vintage carriages all day with a Rover ticket, which is perfect for exploring museums, exhibitions, and scenic stations along the route.
Enjoy additional activities, exhibits and tours for Railway 200 – the national event celebrating 200 years since the invention of passenger-carrying railways here in the UK.
The national exhibition train 'Inspiration' will visit the Bluebell Railway from 23 – 29 July 2025.
Families can take advantage of the 'Kids for a Quid' offer during most weekends and school holidays, where children travel for just £1 with a fare-paying adult.
Throughout the year, families can enjoy free extra entertainment on weekends, which includes Dinosaurs, Fireman Sam, classic car shows, Halloween fun, and a huge Santa Train event at Christmas.
For the adults, the Bluebell Railway Beer Festival hosts over 100 beers, cider and perry, and a great music line-up.
If sumptuous luxury is more your style, the first-class and Pullman coaches offer premium surroundings and delicious afternoon teas, or the Golden Arrow Evening Dining Train, which includes an extravagant three-course meal.
You can get 10% off an advanced full-fare adult all-day Rover ticket using the voucher code: CHECKLIST25 online**.
Stockeld Park
5
Take the kids on an adventure
Visit website to book tickets
If a family day of fun is on the cards this summer, Stockeld Park is Yorkshire's all-weather family adventure park for hours of fun. Stockeld Park is open on weekends and during school holidays and is nestled between Wetherby and Harrogate, packed with year-round attractions.
Some of the iconic attractions include an Enchanted Forest, a giant Yew Tree Maze, a Woodland Laser Arena, and the award-winning Indoor Playhive, which is one of Europe's largest indoor play centres at 20,000 square foot.
This summer, the park will transform into a daily festival with live entertainment, magicians, silent discos, and more.
Stockeld Park also guarantees fun whatever the weather with its inflatables guarantee, which gives customers a free return pass to the park if the inflatables need to close - valid until September 14.
Voted one of Europe's Top 10 Theme Parks by TripAdvisor, it's a brilliant day out for the whole family.
Follow Checklist for more travel tips and inspiration
If you are planning a summer getaway abroad, a UK staycation or want some travel tips follow Checklist.
You can follow @ChecklistSocial on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or sign up for the newsletter and get the latest travel inspiration, tips and deals.
Checklist is dedicated to providing the best free online competitions too – discover amazing new services and products when you visit the website today.
**This code may be applied online to purchases up to and including November 2, 2025, for standard 3rd class travel only. It does not apply to special events.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
4 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Horoscope today, July 23, 2025: Daily star sign guide from Mystic Meg
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) OUR much-loved astrologer Meg sadly died in 2023 but her column will be kept alive by her friend and protégée Maggie Innes. Read on to see what's written in the stars for you today. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up ♈ ARIES March 21 to April 20 Links to an 'A' location sit at the command centre of your chart – a journey across an ocean, for yourself or a project, could launch soon. First get all your plans in order, and update those who care about you or work with you. Your love profile is ambitious, but you know when it feels right, and you won't be rushed. 3 Your daily horoscope for Wednesday ♉ TAURUS April 21 to May 21 Thoughts and choices about cash are no use to those around you unless you share them – so spell out what's on your mind today. Then give your undivided attention to any replies. A key breakthrough moment can be just ahead. Your love zone has quiet confidence – you can get three chances to use it. Get all the latest Taurus horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♊ GEMINI May 22 to June 21 Mercury gets behind your communication style, adding determination to your words, so people know you're one to watch. Success stems from thinking the same thing about yourself, then a career change can click into place. Passion mixes Venus warmth with Mars heat, to set you up for a sexy midweek. Get all the latest Gemini horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♋ CANCER June 22 to July 22 Sometimes you feel financial questions are too dull or dead-end to deserve your attention – but today is different. You've got a sharp eye for bargains others miss. Plus your own version of a future cash plan is the one a group can decide to follow. So complete any research. Love is deliciously different. Get all the latest Cancer horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♌ LEO July 23 to August 23 Strong sun in your own sign is enhanced by a link to genius Uranus that highlights a unique area of your knowledge. So there can be a career ahead for you, writing or talking about your skills. Passion-wise, love is waking up parts of yourself you have closed down over the last year. And 'S' can be the reason why. Get all the latest Leo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♍ VIRGO August 24 to September 22 Your sector of secret wishes and desires is the driving force of your chart today – so don't fight any surprise feelings that make themselves known. You are ready to love in more authentic ways. Saturn's influence in your travel zone helps you stick to a route or date choice, no matter what. Get all the latest Virgo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions 3 A wellbeing moon brings forward questions and helps you ask them Credit: Getty ♎ LIBRA September 23 to October 23 As the moon pushes you to be more emotionally ambitious, this can mean talking about uncomfortable subjects. But done with love and an open heart, the outcome can be all you hope for. When you take a diversion into a revamped street or shop, you could spot the product or person to transform your future. Get all the latest Libra horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♏ SCORPIO October 24 to November 22 A wise moon bigs up the role of learning in your chart, and how essential it is to be able to admit you don't know something – or don't know enough. This might not come naturally at first, but confidence grows with practice. Love-wise, you feel everything deeply, and this can hinder your heart, so set limits. Get all the latest Scorpio horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♐ SAGITTARIUS November 23 to December 21 You are more than ready to accept a transformation challenge linked to where you live. But double-check you have the time to give your all. Otherwise, maybe seek a deadline extension. It's possible your dream deals seem unusual. With brilliant Uranus working through you, together you'll make this work. Get all the latest Sagittarius horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♑ CAPRICORN December 22 to January 20 When you need to revamp a friendship or family group, you can turn to Saturn for support. Keeping your cool, even when others turn up the heat, is your secret strength. This can help you step up to a work role you have always thought out of reach. In love terms, this is a day for fun – and 'H' based flirtation. Get all the latest Capricorn horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions 3 You might have some unusual home ideas as the most outrageous planet gets involved Credit: Supplied ♒ AQUARIUS January 21 to February 18 A wellbeing moon brings forward questions and helps you ask them, if that's what's holding a couple back. But the way you listen and learn is your star power of the day. Uranus' creative input keeps a work team on their toes – so you can be full of surprises when the time eventually comes to strike a deal. Get all the latest Aquarius horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions ♓ PISCES February 19 to March 20 You might have some unusual home ideas as the most outrageous planet gets involved. But even if people around you don't take this seriously, when you really believe in something, it works. Take a step back in love if you need to. If a partnership – or a new passion option – is truly worthy of you, it will wait. Get all the latest Pisces horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Noughties throwback fashion trend Victoria Beckham & J-Lo loved is back in style for summer – here's how to wear it
It's affordable, versatile, and instantly elevates any summer look HEAD OVER HEELS Noughties throwback fashion trend Victoria Beckham & J-Lo loved is back in style for summer – here's how to wear it Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FROM low-rise jeans to tiny bags and enough denim to kit out a whole pop group, it seems that Noughties fashion has officially made a comeback. Now, adding to the collection, one of the decade's coolest and easiest accessories is officially back for summer: the humble-yet-chic headscarf or bandana. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 9 Beyonce Knowles when she was in Destiny's Child Credit: Getty 9 Victoria Beckham pictured back in 2001 wearing a bandana Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 9 Emily Ratajkowski wearing a bandana in Cannes, France this year Credit: Getty This iconic accessory, championed by everyone from pop princesses to fashion royalty back in the early 2000s, is making a serious comeback, and we are absolutely here for it. None other than fashion icon Victoria Beckham and the one and only Jennifer Lopez were big fans of the look. Victoria often opted for sleek, almost minimalist bandanas tied neatly at the nape, adding a touch of understated cool to her polished outfits. J-Lo, on the other hand, made them part of her signature Bronx-goddess aesthetic, often pairing them with crop tops, low-slung jeans, and a whole lotta sparkle. And more recently, A-list celebrities are choosing to bring it back. At Glastonbury, Gracie Abrams cemented the bandana as the essential festival accessory. The bandana is seriously buzzing, currently trending on TikTok with a whopping 312.7k hashtags. Influencers are rocking them with bikinis on the beach and chic summer dresses to the pub, making them the ultimate versatile summer staple. They are even doing tutorials on how best to wear them as well. The buying team at Claire's Accessories reports that, to meet demand, its next collection will contain five more ranges. Dunnes Stores fans go wild for new summer dresses It's affordable, versatile, and instantly elevates any summer look. Plus, it's brilliant for those humid days when your hair has a mind of its own, or to protect your scalp from the glorious (but strong!) summer sun. Fashion experts recommend opting for lightweight cotton for casual, laid-back vibes, or going for luxurious silk for a touch of sophisticated glam. Don't be afraid to experiment with patterns - paisley prints are true Noughties nostalgia, but bold florals and block colours are just as fabulous. 9 Kendall Jenner wearing denim overalls and Birkenstocks, sitting on a bench Credit: Instagram/kendalljenner 9 Hailey Bieber in a yellow bikini and bandana on a boat Credit: Instagram/@haileybieber 9 Hailey Bieber wearing a New York Yankees jacket and leopard print headscarf Credit: Instagram/haileybieber Where you can buy bandana's for cheap ASOS: Check their own ASOS DESIGN accessories, particularly in the sales section, for on-trend and affordable bandanas and headscarves. Click here. Basic Sense: This online retailer offers a good range of plain and patterned cotton bandanas, often under £5 each, including classic paisley and tie-dye options. Click here. Boolavard: You can find remarkably cheap plain and paisley bandanas here, with some options as low as £0.54 per piece if you buy in bulk, great for stocking up on various colours. Click here. Claire's: For classic paisley bandanas, Claire's is a reliable spot, often featuring multi-buy deals or sales for even cheaper prices. Click here. eBay UK: A consistent choice for affordable accessories, you'll find multipacks of cotton paisley bandanas for just a few quid. Keep an eye out for "3-pack" or "12-pack" listings for the best value. Click here. Emily Ratajkowski, 34, glided down the Cannes red carpet in May rocking a vintage Gucci style. She went for a brown theme, with a bandana that featured gold details, accessorising with sunglasses. Not one to miss out on a trend is Hailey Bieber. In true model form, the 28-year-old has styled herself in a bandana more than a couple of times - she even wears it over a cap. Keeping up with the trends as usual is Kendall Jenner, 29. 9 Gracie Abrams performs during day three of Glastonbury festival 2025 Credit: Getty 9 Alexa Chung wearing a headscarf bandana while in Positano, Italy Credit: Instagram/@alexachung 9 Victoria Beckham wearing a trend Burberry style bandana Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd Earlier this year she went for a relaxed look, wearing dungarees, Birkenstocks and a bandana. So, just like Hailey Bieber and Bella Hadid, those who are up for jumping on the trend shouldn't be afraid to experiment with patterns.
Scottish Sun
6 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Prince Harry and Meghan's £100million deal with Netflix SCRAPPED in ‘huge loss of revenue' for couple
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PRINCE Harry and wife Meghan's £100million deal with Netflix has been scrapped. The streamer will not renew their contract when it expires in September. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Prince Harry and wife Meghan's £100million deal with Netflix has been scrapped Credit: Netflix 5 Meghan's lifestyle show failed to break into Netflix's top 300 programmes Credit: TNI Press 5 Fans were left disappointed by the show, slamming Meghan as being out of touch Credit: Netflix The Sussexes and Netflix have mutually decided not to make an official announcement. But streaming execs have quietly agreed to part ways. It comes after Harry's vanity project, Polo, about the sport, was watched by just 500,000 people. It was also understood that bosses were mildly infuriated by Meghan making her As Ever brand a priority. A source said: 'The deal is done; no more shows will be made. 'Netflix feel they've got all they can from the couple. 'Netflix were clever in that they got a hell of a lot of viewers for the first documentary series, and knew, realistically, it would prove the zenith of content from the Montecito pair. 'They're not unhappy with how things turned out — they got those initial hits, and produced one of the most talked-about shows of all time. 'The content got weaker from there on but, frankly, for £20million a year, anything was better than nothing. 'There's no animosity from either side. Meghan & Harry's war with the royals will NEVER end - they'll drag it on as long as they have breath in his body 'Things have just run their course. 'Netflix execs are well aware Meghan's priority now is her own brand, and they won't play second fiddle to that. 'Publicly, there will not be a statement and of course, if things change dramatically, they'd be open to a one-off project down the line. 'But for Harry, especially, this will be a blow. 'It's a huge loss of revenue.' Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos is believed to remain on good terms with Meghan. The source said streamer Paramount+ was thought to be keen to work with the couple, who would be open to it if the right project came along. Last month it was announced Netflix had signed a deal with King Charles and Idris Elba for a documentary exploring the impact of the King's Trust. And it was understood any deal with the Sussexes could be seen as a hindrance to that link-up. Netflix declined to comment. 5 Bosses were mildly infuriated by Meghan making her brand a priority
