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How to have the perfect summer city break in Paris

How to have the perfect summer city break in Paris

Telegraph03-07-2025
The uniform sandstone of the Haussmann buildings, the abundance of gilded historic monuments, and the glimmering Seine and its elegant bridges have arguably made Paris the most recognisable and romanticised cityscape in the world. But though the city wears its history – of monarchy, revolution, revolt and artistic innovation – with characteristic style, it is also increasingly looking to the future and outwards to the rest of the world.
Those looking to explore the city's rich heritage can spend long afternoons getting lost in the Louvre, wandering the Musée d'Orsay, or ducking in and out of Paris's countless historical churches (many of which were reinvented as Republican temples after the Revolution). For more contemporary tastes, there's plenty of exploring to be done in the less tourist-trodden outer arrondissements – from arts venues on the sloping streets of Belleville to the boutique hotels and reinvented dive bars of Pigalle.
For further Paris inspiration, see our guides devoted to the French capital's best hotels, restaurants, nightlife, bars, things to do, free things to do and shopping.
In this guide:
What's new in Paris this summer
See: David Hockney 25
This summer, the Fondation Louis Vuitton, located on the edge of the Bois de Boulogne park in the upscale west of the city, has invited the legendary British artist for the largest exhibition of his work to date. The dazzling selection has been curated with Hockney's input and features many of his works from the last 25 years, as well as some iconic earlier paintings – 400 pieces will be on display in total (from April 9 to August 31, 2025).
Visit: The Tuileries Gardens for fun and Olympics nostalgia
Every summer from the end of June, the elegant Tuileries Gardens, next to the Louvre, hosts a sprawling fun fair complete with a ghost train, vintage-style carousels and a giant Ferris wheel – a favourite with local families and visitors. From June 23 to September 14, the same park will also be displaying the striking hot-air balloon that held the Olympic flame during the Games last year, in an installation that will repeat every year until the next summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Swim: In the Seine (yes, really)
Paris Plages, the city's summer initiative to add beach vibes along the banks of the Seine (deck chairs, ice cream kiosks, etc) started more than 20 years ago and has seen significant expansion. This year – for the first time in a century – brave swimmers will be able to have a splash in the Seine. Throughout July and August, three urban beaches will open in Bercy in the east, Grenelle in the west and at Bras Marie in the centre of town. The water will be regularly tested to ensure safety.
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Brooklyn Beckham 'flexes' his in-laws wealth on £85M superyacht that dwarfs his parent's £16M vessel as they narrowly avoid each other in St Tropez amid family rift
Brooklyn Beckham 'flexes' his in-laws wealth on £85M superyacht that dwarfs his parent's £16M vessel as they narrowly avoid each other in St Tropez amid family rift

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  • Daily Mail​

Brooklyn Beckham 'flexes' his in-laws wealth on £85M superyacht that dwarfs his parent's £16M vessel as they narrowly avoid each other in St Tropez amid family rift

Brooklyn Beckham has been flexing the Peltz's wealth during a St Tropez getaway with his in-laws - dwarfing his family's current getaway in the same location. The amateur chef, 26, who is embroiled in a rift with his family, spent the week on a £85million superyacht called Project X, which is chartered for £1.2million per week. The 260ft luxury vessel was rented by Nicola's billionaire parents, who holidayed with the couple and the rest of the Peltz clan. Just two days after the family jetted back to the U.S. after their European getaway, Brooklyn's parents arrived in the same dock on their £16million yacht, Seven. David, 50 and Victoria, 51, bought their 130ft boat in 2022, after previously buying a smaller vessel by the same name the year before. Speaking about the financial rivalry, a source told The Sun: 'Brooklyn's yacht dwarfs the one owned by David and Victoria. It's a financial flex. 'Their relationship is beyond soured now but Brooklyn has really landed on his feet. Nicola and her parents, Nelson and Claudia, are his family now. And he's clearly enjoying the spoils.' Project X boasts a master suite, a VIP cabin, five double rooms as well as two twin cabins, while being able to hold a crew of 28 to run the boat. Special features include a huge glass-sided swimming pool, a wellness suite, a spa and a jaw-dropping 360-degree sundeck. Meanwhile, the Beckham's smaller yacht has five cabins in comparison, sleeping ten people and seven crew members. Their boat features a spa bath on the upper deck, as well as 65ft garage, plenty of water toys and a jet ski to keep the family entertained. Seven is named after David's iconic football shirt number as well as their daughter Harper's middle name. They previously owned a £5million boat but upgraded it less than a year later. David and Victoria are away with their other three children, Romeo, 22, Cruz, 20 and Harper, 14. They narrowly avoided an awkward run-in with estranged son Brooklyn and his wife Nicola in the celebrity hotspot. They arrived in the south of France for their annual summer break, where their eldest son had been spotted holidaying on his billionaire father-in-law's boat nearby. David and Victoria were joined on the lavish getaway by the rest of their children; Harper and Romeo while youngest son Cruz soaked up the sun elsewhere in St Tropez with girlfriend Jackie Apostel, 30. Romeo and Harper were first of the family to be spotted in St Tropez on Thursday, just 48-hours after Brooklyn met with godfather Elton John, who was also holidaying in the South Of France, for lunch where the singer 'attempted to end ongoing family feud'. The once close-knit Beckham family has been thrown into turmoil in recent months, amid claims Brooklyn has become increasingly estranged from his famous parents after failing to attend any of his father 50th birthday celebrations in May. It was also revealed that Brooklyn and Nicola's Instagram accounts no longer follow his younger brothers in the latest family drama. Sir Elton, who has been friends with the Beckhams for three decades, reportedly took the opportunity to 'say his piece' about the feud as he wined and dined the young couple. According to The Sun, Sir Elton 'briefly' spoke about the family's feud in the hope Brooklyn would patch things up with his parents, and footage of the outing shared on social media showed the pair shaking hands. Speaking about Elton's attempts to play peacekeeper in the row, a source said: 'Elton is the showbiz equivalent of Switzerland. He's utterly neutral in this row. 'Elton of old may have relished in taking sides - in this case his young godson, Brooklyn - but two years off his 80th birthday, he's a man who has seen and done it all. He just wants everyone to be happy. 'There is no side-taking as such; he simply adores his godson, and really has a laugh with Nicola who he thinks has a great sense of humour. He wants to look after them in his role as 'spiritual adviser' as a godfather, it's a role he takes seriously. 'Elton and David think the situation is terribly sad, and has gently suggested to all involved that life is short - to patch things up.' The source added Elton is 'adamant he doesn't want to stick his nose in' the feud, he just simply 'wants peace'. Sir Elton is also said to have generously picked up the entire bill, after dining on the restaurant's signature lobster linguine which comes in at an eye-watering £190. Brooklyn enjoyed a workout on the multi-million pound super Superyacht Nicola shared a slew of final holiday snaps from the couple's lavish trip before heading home to the US. In a snap shared to her Instagram Stories Nicola threw her arms around Brooklyn's neck as they smooched while watching a sunset. She later stunned in a black mini dress as she strutted her stuff on the dance floor before enjoying a lavish fireworks display. The heiress later showcased her jaw-dropping figure as she headed ashore and turned heads in a Chanel crop top which she teamed with a fluffy shrug, despite the scorching weather. Meanwhile another source has claimed that Nicola and Brooklyn will not feature in his mother forthcoming documentary series. The former Spice Girl will take centre stage in a new Netflix docuseries about her day-to-day life as creative director of the eponymous fashion and beauty brand she originally launched in 2008. The source told The Sun: 'The children hardly feature — it's simply not a case of Brooklyn and Nicola being cut, as they weren't in it to start with. 'This is very much a project focussing on Victoria's transaction from pop star to businesswoman and designer.' MailOnline has contacted the Beckhams and Elton's representatives for comment.

EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: GB News presenter Ellie Costello ties the knot with partner Gerard Durkan in three-day Irish celebration at 16th-century French castle
EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: GB News presenter Ellie Costello ties the knot with partner Gerard Durkan in three-day Irish celebration at 16th-century French castle

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EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: GB News presenter Ellie Costello ties the knot with partner Gerard Durkan in three-day Irish celebration at 16th-century French castle

GB News breakfast presenter Ellie Costello has a joyful bulletin to report. As Eamonn Holmes 's co-host has said 'I Do' for a second time to her partner Gerard Durkan in an intimate ceremony at Chateau de Robernier, a 16th-century French castle in Provence. The couple, who have been together for seven years, after first meeting at university, held a civil ceremony earlier this year in Chelsea's Old Town Hall in London. Ellie, 32, tells me: 'We definitely felt like this was our real wedding. We got married in a church, we exchanged rings, and we literally "tied the knot," which is an ancient Celtic tradition of having the priest tie a knot over your hands to represent your lives being bound together.' She adds: 'We're going to celebrate our anniversary on 12th July, which is our French wedding date.' Meanwhile, the fairytale-like venue, which locals call the 'sleeping beauty castle', hosted three days of celebrations for the newlyweds, including a free-flowing rose pool party. The couple also honoured their Irish heritage with an Irish band and an open mic session on the Sunday evening. Among the guests was her GB News co-presenter Stephen Dixon, with whom she hosts the breakfast show, which recently won a TRIC award for best news programme, on Thursdays and Fridays. 'It was the wedding of our dreams,' says Ellie. 'The atmosphere was electric and our guests told us they thought they were in a film. 'It's everything we could have possibly hoped for.' While Ellie opted to wear a long-sleeved, buttoned, white mini dress for her civil ceremony, this time around she chose a traditional design by Allure Bridals and Jimmy for her nuptials in the South of France. She says of the design: 'I saw it online and I knew it was the one because I had such a strong vision of what I wanted my wedding dress to look like. 'I'm very impulsive, and the ladies in the dress shop kept encouraging me to try on other dresses, but I just knew that it was my dress. 'I had it customised to make the straps removable, I also chose to add a large hoop in the skirt and a cathedral length train. 'I wanted my dress to look timeless and regal, but also glamorous. Hopefully I managed to achieve that.' The final touches of glamour came from jeweller Neil Duttson, who supplied the Bride's wedding jewellery. 'He lent me a 25-carat necklace and 2-carat earrings which absolutely made the dress,' reveals Ellie. The news star admits she put herself on a gruelling physical regime to be in the best shape possible for her big day. 'In terms of prep for the wedding, I had a series of NeoGen treatments with Ayla Aesthetics to help with my acne scarring and pigmentation and used skin boosters and polynucleotides. 'I started Zero Gravity reformer Pilates straight after getting engaged, and over the past 18 months, it has transformed my body and leaned me out. 'It's the only exercise I've ever enjoyed, and I find the classes are such a good way to switch off from the stresses of the newsroom. She adds: 'Gerard and I both got composite bonding done at Smiles and Smiles to get our smiles wedding-ready.' Indeed, she admits the newlyweds are still smiling and are on 'cloud nine' following their French ceremony and says: 'We can't wait for the next chapter in our lives together'

Inside Brooklyn Beckham's ‘financial flex' in feud with dad David as his £85m superyacht dwarfs family's £16m vessel
Inside Brooklyn Beckham's ‘financial flex' in feud with dad David as his £85m superyacht dwarfs family's £16m vessel

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Inside Brooklyn Beckham's ‘financial flex' in feud with dad David as his £85m superyacht dwarfs family's £16m vessel

BROOKLYN Beckham is trying to outdo his estranged dad David — by going on holiday on his billionaire in-laws' massive yacht. The 26-year-old sailed into Saint-Tropez in an £85million, 80-metre (260ft) vessel called Project X. 8 8 It is rented by his wife Nicola's parents Nelson and Claudia Peltz at a cost of £1.2million a week. Two days later, Brooklyn's dad David, 50, and mum Victoria, 51, arrived in the same French dock in a £16million, 40-metre (130ft) yacht named Seven. A source said: 'Brooklyn's yacht dwarfs the one owned by David and Victoria. It's a financial flex. 'Their relationship is beyond soured now but Brooklyn has really landed on his feet. Nicola and her parents, Nelson and Claudia, are his family now. And he's clearly enjoying the spoils.' Brooklyn's vessel, with a master suite, a VIP cabin, five double rooms and two twin cabins, has a crew of 28. It also boasts a 25ft by 9ft glass-sided swimming pool, a wellness suite, a spa and a 360-degree sundeck. David's yacht is half the size, with five cabins that sleep ten people, and up to seven crew members on board. The boat, which he bought in 2022, also features a spa bath on the upper deck as well as a 65ft garage, which is packed with water toys including a tender and a jet ski. David and Victoria bought Seven — so-called because of their daughter Harper's middle name — in an upgrade from a smaller £5million vessel. They are in Saint-Tropez with Harper, 14, and their other sons Romeo, 22, and Cruz, 20. David and Victoria Beckham's agony as family feud explodes into WW3 and pals say 'Brooklyn has totally cut them off' Brooklyn, along with his wife Nicola, 30, no longer speak to his family following a much-publicised feud earlier this year, which The Sun understands was sparked by money. We first revealed the rift in May. But it worsened earlier this month after brothers Romeo and Cruz appeared to block Brooklyn and Nicola on social media. Those close to Brooklyn said a reconciliation with his family was off the table, adding: 'There's too much water under the bridge.' Brooklyn and Nicola have posted pictures from their break on social media — including one of her naked in one of the yacht's baths. Aspiring cook, photographer and model Brooklyn also posted a snap of himself drinking a bottle of beer next to billionaire businessman Nelson. 8 8 8 Brooklyn and Nicola have also been seen out shopping in posh boutiques in and around Saint-Tropez. He also met his godfather, singer Sir Elton John, last week in Cannes. Sir Elton is said to have tried to be a peacemaker in Brooklyn's feud — but is not taking sides. An insider said: 'Elton is the showbiz equivalent of Switzerland. He's utterly neutral in this row. He just wants everyone to be happy. 'He wants to look after them in his role as 'spiritual adviser' as a godfather. It's a role he takes seriously.' 8 8 8

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