The ultimate guide to the Cotswolds: Our writer has visited this much-loved region more than 100 times. Here are her top tips for where to stay, what villages to see... and the ones to avoid
In London, we lived ten minutes from each other and I would often collect the little one from nursery or take him to the swings in St James's Park. The country just seemed too far away – no matter how smart it was, how many Soho Houses it might have and whatever the Beckhams might think.
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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Dozens of passengers evacuated from London-bound Eurostar train after 'nine-hour wait': Woman tells of 'overflowing toilets', staff offering Kit Kats as meals and overheating travellers 'stealing water'
A woman stuck on board a Eurostar train for more than nine hours in northern France has revealed the 'inhumane' conditions on board that she says saw dehydrated passengers scrambling to steal water and offered a Kit Kat bar as a meal. Paisley, 27, from the United States, had been on the London-bound train which departed Brussels at 8.52am (local time) today before it ground to a halt near the Channel Tunnel in Calais. She had planned to end a summer trip around Europe with her mother-in-law with a night in the English capital which she had forked out $1500 (around £1100) on for reservations including an all-day spa and a Rosette award winning dinner. But those plans have now been 'completely ruined' thanks to a power fault which the 27-year-old says caused people to pass out while being stranded for six hours before ambulances arrived at the scene. 'There were babies and elderly people on board, the toilets weren't working, there was no electricity, no food or water available,' she said. 'That was just the first six hours and that's not even the whole of the madness. It was seven or eight hours that had passed when they started evacuating us off the train so we could get fresh air because there was people suffering.' Eurostar posted to X at 12.55pm - which Paisley says was more than three hours after they first got stranded - to inform passengers that they were 'sending a replacement train to take you to London, which should arrive around 1.30pm' local time. However, Paisley said no train arrived until 5pm this evening and that they did not depart until after 7pm local time - finally arriving in London just before 7.30pm BST, almost ten hours after they were scheduled to. While they were stuck on board, Paisley said toilets in carriages were overflowing. She said: 'People started trying to use the restroom and then it started overflowing so people couldn't go anymore. 'From what I heard - it wasn't on my carriage - there was a few cars that experienced overflowing of the toilets coming down the aisles. 'They kept telling us for hours and hours 'a train's coming in 10 minutes'. 'They even posted on X that a train would come at 1.30pm. But we have literally only just left now and it's 7.30pm. And the train didn't even arrive until around 5pm'. She also said Eurostar were initially charging passengers for water before they began to steal bottles because they were so dehydrated. Paisley added: 'In the first six or seven hours they were asking people to pay for the café items while we were stranded. Eurostar posted to X at 12.55pm (local time) to inform passengers that they were 'sending a replacement train to take you to London, which should arrive around 1.30pm' local time - but Paisley said it did not arrive until 5pm 'But eventually people were opening up cabinets because they were dripping. It's not that they were trying to steal or do anything wrong, they were just extremely dehydrated. 'We were also starving and many of us have lost thousands of dollars, whether it's airport transfers, people are missing funerals, people were missing events.' Paisley said it took more than six hours for emergency services to come to the assistance of the distressed passengers. And when they did arrive, the 27-year-old said those who had been stuck on board and unable to go to the toilet, had to relieve themselves behind an aluminium foil held up by medics and staff. She said: 'Authorities were holding it up for people to go to the bathroom in the same place. It was really bad. 'It's wild because the paramedics arrived after we had been sitting for six hours in the heat with people standing outside. Paisley paid $374.47 for two tickets on the service (around £250) which Eurostar has now confirmed will be refunded (the above image shows that passengers were initially scheduled to arrive in London at 9.57am) 'It wasn't a very safe place either. I know there's nothing they can do about the location of the train. But we were next to a ditch in the heat. 'Hours and hours passed. It was inhumane. I'll be honest, we've been treated like animals.' By the time Eurostar sent a new train to take them to London, Paisley said she was expecting to receive some sort of meal given that she - and many others - had not eaten for hours. However, she claims she was only offered a Kit Kat bar and that no food was brought on the new service. After arriving in London tonight at around 7.30pm BST - Paisley told how there were stalls set up in St Pancras where even more Kit Kats were being handed out, as well as bottled water and sandwiches. She said: 'When the train arrived at the station I felt like I was breaking free from prison. I had never wanted to see a car more in my life than when my Uber pulled up to the station. 'This was my mother-in-law's first time taking Eurostar trains and travelling around Europe. Now she never wants to do it again via train. It has completely ruined the experience and she has a fear of trains now.' Paisley paid $374.47 for two tickets on the service (around £250) which Eurostar has now confirmed will be refunded. The rail operator has apologised to its passengers after today's incident. A Eurostar spokesperson told Metro: 'Earlier today, Eurostar train 9117, travelling from Brussels to London, came to a standstill between Lille and Calais due to a power failure, leaving the train without onboard electricity. 'To provide passengers with some comfort during the delay, train doors were opened to allow fresh air to circulate, and water was distributed. 'A rescue train was promptly dispatched from Brussels to carry out a complex transfer operation. This process, supported by local authorities and SNCF Réseau personnel on site, is taking longer than anticipated and is still ongoing. 'Eurostar teams are doing everything possible to ensure all affected passengers reach their final destination, London St Pancras, as soon as possible. 'We understand how difficult this experience has been and sincerely apologise for the disruption and discomfort caused. We are also extremely grateful for our passengers' patience and cooperation throughout. 'Eurostar will offer all affected customers a compensation package of either a full cash refund (100%) or 300% of the ticket value in the form of an e-voucher.' A Eurostar spokeswoman told AFP the train 'came to a standstill with no power on board' on Sunday morning between the northern cities of Lille and Calais. She said passengers received water and the doors were opened to allow air to circulate. Several passengers took to social media to vent at the delay and accuse Eurostar of a lack of communication.
Telegraph
4 hours ago
- Telegraph
Maiden voyage of £16k-a-ticket train cancelled
The maiden voyage of a sleeper train that cost £16,000 a ticket has been cancelled. The weekend tour to Cornwall was cut after the Britannic Explorer needed maintenance the day it was due to depart. Instead of making the journey from London Victoria to Penzance on Friday, the Belmond operated train was diverted for repairs near Southampton. It is understood some passengers paid more than £50,000 for a three-night stay in one of the train's three 'grand suites'. The urgent repairs mean that the July 11 journey to the Lake District has also been cancelled. The train has fine-dining cars, 18 sleeper-cabin suites and onboard spa treatments. Among its cabins are three grand suites and 15 standard suites. Its dining experience has been designed by Simon Rogan, the award-winning restaurateur. The company said passengers were offered a full refund 'including associated travel costs'. The cancellation came just a day after guests had celebrated the train's launch with a three-hour party hosted by Keira Knightley at London Euston station. Belmond, which also operates the Oriental Express through Singapore and Malaysia, says its lavish service will now depart London for mid-Wales on July 21. A company spokesman said: 'The adjustment to the schedule was due to final refinements being made to ensure the train operates at the highest possible standard. 'Our team is committed to delivering an exceptional experience.' In November 2024, Belmond announced it would debut the 'unapologetically British, effortlessly elegant' service in mid-2025. A spokesman said it would offer three-night journeys 'through the spectacular natural landscapes of Cornwall, The Lake District and Wales'. Hendrik Huebner, the general manager of the Britannic Explorer, said: 'It's a reimagining of what travel in Britain can be. 'We're creating moments of wonder between iconic stops – slow, soulful, sensory travel that's very much in tune with what luxury travellers are seeking now.' Speaking about the food on board Mr Rogan last November said he hoped every passenger 'not only enjoys the flavours but also feels a connection between the dishes and the journey, making their time on board truly memorable'. A trip on the Britannic Explorer in a double cabin starts from £11,000, including a three-night itinerary, excursions, meals, wine and other alcoholic beverages on board, rising to £16,000 for a suite and a double bed. At £16,000, the cost of an excursion on the Britannic Explorer is enough to fund a 75-day cruise for two around South America and the Caribbean. It is also significantly more expensive than the firm's Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, where berths are priced from £3,885 per person for the two-day journey from Paris. Belmond had previously said cabins were already 70 per cent booked for this year, with the company highlighting one guest who has made reservations for all three Britannic Explorer itineraries back-to-back. There are still £8,500 tickets available for it's three-day journey to Cornwall on Sept 19. Belmond, which was acquired by French luxury goods giant LVMH for £2.34 billion in 2019, was contacted for comment.
Telegraph
4 hours ago
- Telegraph
The 20 best things to do on the Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight caters for everyone. I speak from personal experience; I first visited as a child, then as a lover of wildlife and walking, good food and drink and latterly as a parent of young, then older children. The island has excellent conventional attractions and does a fantastic job of interpreting its ancient and wartime history, as well as its relationship with the sea. In many ways, though, the great outdoors is the main event, and your best memories may well be of wandering along a beach and stumbling upon a fossil or spotting a red squirrel in a woodland. All our recommendations below have been hand selected and tested by our destination expert to help you discover the best things to do on the Isle of Wight. Find out more below, or for more Isle of Wight inspiration, see our guides to its best hotels restaurants, bars and pubs, and beaches. Find things to do by type: Best for royalty and history Best for families Best for museum lovers Best for foodies Best for walkers Best for nature lovers Best for seaside Victoriana Best for royalty and history Osborne House Discover Queen Victoria's 'little paradise' Osborne House was where Queen Victoria was most amused, describing it as her 'little paradise'. Built in Italianate style and set among lawns edged by veteran oaks and yews, sumptuous state rooms and opulently furnished corridors are warmed by personal touches such as marble sculptures cast from moulds of plaster of limbs of the couple's children. Insider tip: The attractive shingle beach behind the house is easily missed and on the way you will see the bathing machine – it brings to mind a cowboy's wagon – where Queen Victoria got changed before she took to the water.
