Smugglers' adventures: All the fun of the fair (and fresh air) at the seaside in Hastings
We decided to escape London's sticky heatwave for somewhere with a sea breeze and plenty of cold water to cool off in. Hastings, which I'd never been to before, seemed the perfect choice.
Not only is there an ancient castle for the history buffs (that's me), there's penny arcades, a funfair, an aquarium and the crowning glory: a smugglers' adventure – that's dark caves carved out of rock with actual ghosts (apparently). Talk about spooky!
Setting sail
We were due to 'set sail' (metaphorically) from Charing Cross station at 10.15am – on 'a proper train' as my son described it, staring back at the cramped London Underground we'd just left behind.
He was right to be pleased: once we were moving, Hastings-bound – with 15 packets of crisps, seven orange juices, what felt like 500 bags of sweets and my Family & Friends Railcard all displayed proudly on the train table like an artwork – the journey to the coast became part of the adventure.
Where else can you spot world-famous landmarks from the comfort of your train seat? We saw the London Eye, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, the Thames and Southwark Cathedral before anyone had even munched their way through a single snack.
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The girls settled into watching a movie on their iPads, my son was playing a game and I actually read a book – the last time I'd read a book was probably before I had the children. In fact, this journey was so revelatory that I don't think I will ever drive again. It's all about taking trains, now. I was so relaxed, it felt like being on a spa day.
Where else can you spot world-famous landmarks from the comfort of your seat? We saw the London Eye, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, the Thames and Southwark Cathedral before anyone had munched a single snack.
Just an hour-and-a-half later, we arrived in Hastings and navigated our way to our guesthouse: Ruby's Rooms – an arty space just 10 minutes from the town centre. We had the entire ground floor sea-view apartment, with a continental breakfast included, free Wi-Fi and just a 30-second walk to the beach. What a win.
Sea life
We'd been in the apartment for five minutes, when the kids started whining about having to get into the sea IMMEDIATELY. Beach towels borrowed from Kate at Ruby's Rooms, we headed for the shore, where the children did something utterly unthinkable: they got straight in the sea. It takes me at least an hour to work up the nerve but they were straight in and under. Unbelievable.
Once they were out and I could stop anxiously hovering in the shallows worrying about them, I laid my towel on the pebbles and closed my eyes, feeling like I was in Marbella. Hot sun, salt in the air, the girls making silly TikTok videos and my son burying himself in rocks. Everything was dreamy.
Even better, was getting an ice cream from one of the many artisanal ice cream shops along the parade. Black treacle flavour with a black charcoal waffle cone? My goth heart was sated! The kids scoffed a weird combo of pistachio, peppermint and bubblegum ice-cream as we tackled an incredibly steep hill on the way to the 'Smugglers' Adventure. They were enjoying themselves so much – I didn't hear a single moan from them.
RDG HASTINGS TWO
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Once we we got to Smugglers' Adventure however, there was plenty of moaning. It was all ghostly though – so much that my son wrapped himself around my leg like a baby koala as soon as the eerie voice of Hairy Jack – a smuggler from the past, doubling as our tour guide ghost – boomed through the dark caverns. We had a lot of fun attempting to hoist an anchor and shouting 'boo!' at the waxworks.
I laid my towel on the pebbles and closed my eyes, feeling like I was in Marbella. Hot sun, salt in the air, the girls making silly TikTok videos and my son burying himself in rocks. Everything was dreamy.
Ahoy! It was time for pizza! I'd read about the 'best pizza in Hastings' online – and despite fierce competition, opted for Monellis sourdough gourmet pizza on George Street – and boy, was it worth it – if a little spicy! After another ice-cream for the walk home to cool our mouths down, we fell into the penny arcades, where we spent far too much money trying to win a dinosaur toy on the 2p slot machines.
Historical Hastings
The next morning, it was off to a castle to learn about history – I ignored the laments of, 'Do we have to?' And won them round by telling them about the Battle of Hastings in 1066, which I still remember even though I'm ancient. 10/10 for Mum.
They got even more enthusiastic when I reminded them that according to the Bayeux Tapestry, King Harold was killed at the Battle of Hastings by being shot in the eye with an arrow. Grisly. If there's one thing I'm learning about my children, this weekend, is that they are weird, wonderful – and grisly. So, off we headed up the very steep hill, into the castle entrance, and straight into the dungeons.
RDG HASTINGS THREE
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They were a welcome break from the heat (that steep hill in 28-degree heat, carrying everyone's bags wasn't pleasant). I considered asking the man behind the counter if he would lock the kids up in the dungeons for a couple of hours, but sadly he looked too busy. Shame.
Instead, we did what everyone should do when looking at the ruins of an ancient castle – cartwheels – as well as a comedy 'jump shot' through an archway; and marvelled at the genuinely stunning panoramic views. We could see right out across the bay; we could see people sailing, swimming – we could even see France, right there on the horizon, through the haze. C'est magnifique.
It would be all too easy to lose track of time, but thankfully, I had a FitBit which told me we'd already done 26,000 steps (that would be the steep hill) – and our feet were aching, so we decided to grab the super-cute funicular railway lift back down the cliff to the old town. It was built in 1902, I told them. 'Was that when you were born?' my son said. Thank you, thank you…
We did what everyone should do when looking at the ruins of an ancient castle – cartwheels – as well as a comedy 'jump shot' through an archway; and marvelled at the stunning panoramic views.
We were really going for it now, trying to fit everything in during our final precious hours, so we made a pit-stop at the aquarium to see some cool sharks, wandered along the seafront where we discovered a truly gigantic anchor, had an incredible fish and chips meal at Maggie's and still had time for another ice-cream and a spot of shopping, before it was time to get the train home. We slumped tired but happy into our seats, knowing we could relax after all the action.
What did I learn? Children are the best travel companions – funny, frank, eye-wateringly honest when something is going well… and when it isn't. They don't fake anything – when they're having fun, you know about it – and those are the sweetest moments of all. And as a bonus, Hairy Jack and the dungeons have given me great reasons to make them do their homework…
Enjoy great value British adventures by train
From stunning nature and the great outdoors, to culture, cuisine and incredible scenery, there's no doubt Britain has it all in spades, and these unmissable adventures are just a simple, enjoyable train ride away. So there's never been a better time to start planning some Great British getaways, from day trips to weekends away or a longer staycation. With Railcard, whether you're travelling solo or with a friend, on a couples weekend or off on holiday with the family, you can save on all sorts of train journeys around Great Britain. Railcard helps you save a third off rail travel and for just £35 for the year, it pays for itself in no time. With 9 different Railcards available, find the one for you at railcard.co.uk. So make this your year to get out, experience and explore everything on your doorstep and enjoy truly great value getaways.
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Daily Mail
11 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Forty illegal caravans line country lanes and villagers are 'surrounded' by rubbish... so why is NOTHING being done about Glastonbury's caravan slum?
Sitting on a vintage patio chair a man wearing a short-sleeved shirt and shorts, a man enjoys a beer as he soaks up the early afternoon sunshine in picturesque Somerset. Nearby, more than 40 caravans and motorhomes have similar set ups with garden furniture and even makehsift decking. But this is not your average holiday campsite - far from it. In fact the battered caravans and converted trucks are line the streets illegally through one of Britain's most iconic villages - Glastonbury. These squatters are not just here for the summer, they've been a blight on local roads for years, much to the anguish of local homeowners and businesses. In a recent viral clip a caravan dweller boasted to a YouTuber that he had been squatting illegally on his stretch of road for 'nine years'. Without a care in the world the man, described as a 'village elder', proudly showed influencer Joe Fish around his community. He said: 'I've been here nine years now. Nothing was here, one day I decided to come down. 'I've been growing my garden, it's beautiful down here - we have a proper community, we look out for each other. 'I'm sort of like an elder, I'm 61 now, one of the oldest here.' But while outsiders relish the freedom of living on the edges of society, locals are not impressed with their neighbours due to a string of anti-social behaviours including swearing and public defecation. Gym owner Adam Shepherd told the Daily Mail: 'We're surrounded by mess, dumped caravans, vans, piles and piles of rubbish, dogs running around while not on a lead, dog excrement, human excrement and I've had threats as a business owner. 'I have no problems with how people want to live – whether it's out of choice or not. We all have hard times. But if that's how you want to live, that's great, but the rest of us have to pay taxes. 'We have to pay to have our rubbish taken, we don't just dump it to be collected and paid for by someone else.' Ms Osborn added: 'It causes a great deal of problems because we have a lot of people living here who are not contributing. 'If you've got people taking out of the services without putting in, then you can't budget for it. You can't do anything.' Adam Shepherd, who has been running Sweet Track Fitness on the Morland estate for nine years and revealed the caravan cities are far from innocent and actually affect his business. He said: 'We're surrounded by mess, dumped caravans, vans, piles and piles of rubbish, dogs running around while not on a lead, dog excrement, human excrement and I've had threats as a business owner. 'I have no problems with how people want to live – whether it's out of choice or not. We all have hard times. 'But if that's how you want to live, that's great, but the rest of us have to pay taxes. 'We have to pay to have our rubbish taken, we don't just dump it to be collected and paid for by someone else.' This week, The Mail spoke to many in the van-dwelling community and they offered another side of the story. We found Dan, a Mancunian in his late-50s, sipping beer in the mid-afternoon sun outside his caravan near the former tannery. He said: 'Sure, there are maybe at the most half a dozen a…….s who are giving all of us a bad name. 'They are horrible to us too. They're not proper travellers. I think the one thing that this group of half a dozen people have in common is mental health problems. 'They have attacked me as recently as today, threatening to kill me and trying to pull down the hurdle fencing I've carefully constructed around my caravan. 'They have dogs that have been biting people and yes, they do s..t in public places and it is disgusting. 'I can understand why the locals are fed up with them because we are too. 'But it's unfair to tar us all with the same brush. 'We mind our own business and ensure we do not tolerate bag hygiene. 'Many of us have built composter toilets and use the waste to grow our own food. 'Any wood we collect is from tree fall and using that keeps the fields and hedgerows tidy. 'Many of us have jobs locally and we get on great with the people of the town.' Dan's first taste of caravan-dwelling came in the early 1990s after he was sacked from his job as a telex messenger by his boss at Kleinwort Benson, then a leading investment bank in the City of London which has since merged with SG Hambros to become Kleinwort Hambros. He said: 'I had a pretty good career shaping up with the bank but I overslept one morning and when I arrived at my desk half an hour late my boss sacked me on the spot. 'I moved out of my flat the same day because I knew I'd have no income and felt too disillusioned to bother trying for another job at the time and moved into a squat in Hackney Wick.' The scourge of Van Life: Why does Glastonbury have a caravan culture A Somerset Council report estimates there are over 300 van dwellers in Glastonbury. Caravan residents do not pay council tax and have no legal right to accommodate on their pitches as they do not own them. In the past, Somerset Council has issued enforcement notices against settlements on brownfield sites in the city. However, many of the communities situated along country lanes and on smaller rural green field sites have seemingly been allowed to prosper undisturbed. In March, Somerset Council announced plans to create a regulated site for some of the dwellers. The site is part of the partially funded Glastonbury Town Deal which acknowledges the area has become an 'unofficial base for communities of travellers and other off-grid dwellers.' It states: 'The Town Deal is an opportunity to provide support in the form of a new regulated site with permanent pitches. The aim is to improve the situation for roadside dwellers, subject to meeting the eligibility criteria for the new site.' 'Later, I joined the eco protest movement and then moved here because I loved the Glastonbury vibe. 'I've made so many friends here. They're my family. 'Apart from the minority of idiots, we all get on fantastically well. We look out for each other. If someone has no food or wood, we'll sort them out. It's a wonderful community to be part of. 'I never for a moment miss my old life at the bank. Looking back, I realise how boring and conventional it all was. Everything I earned just fed the machine - my rent, fashionable clothing, expensive meals out. I was just spending all my money on stuff I didn't really need. 'This is where `I belong.' Opposite Dan and sipping from a can of Pimms, is 24-year-old Erin, who spends her summers picking up litter on the UK music festival circuit. She was born to Romany traveller parents who toured Europe as part of a circus troupe and now lives in a caravan in Glastonbury. She said she has tried living in bricks and mortar, but left after a few weeks and returned to her van-dwelling life. Erin, sporting a crew cut hairstyle and tattooed chest, said: 'Having four walls around me was wrecking my mental health. It's been scientifically proven that living in houses or flats put people in a fight or flight state, which is stressful. 'It triggers adverse changes in something called the sympathetic nervous system and it makes people feel trapped and unhappy. People need to live in a way that makes them feel connected to their wider surroundings. 'So many people live their lives surrounded by four walls. They rarely get out and it is so damaging to their mental health. 'Living like we do here, you have to get outdoors, even if it's just to go to the toilet.' For her, the toilet regime involves a 200-metre walk to a local Brewers Fayre pub restaurant, she says. 'The staff don't mind at all. I'd never relieve myself in public. That would be disgusting.' Another van-dweller, Leo, 22, was born in a caravan in Glastonbury and has found work locally as a carpenter. 'This life is all I have ever known and I love it. 'My friends and family are around me and I can go out and work locally doing something I enjoy.' Leo, like many others living off-grid in the town, sources all of his water from the ancient White Spring that has drawn visitors to Glastonbury for centuries. 'It is the healthiest water in the world,' he said. He added: 'It's sad that some of the locals have complained about us but I have always got on with them well. 'I've never had any bother here, although I spent a few months in Hereford a while ago and someone pulled a knife on me because they didn't want us there. People are more tolerant here, in my experience. 'It's not fair to accuse us of not paying tax, either. The only tax we don't pay is council tax, but we pay plenty of tax on everything else. 'And of course we're not a drain on council services because we don't actually receive any services. No one comes and picks our rubbish up. We have to bundle it up ourselves and take it to recycling centres and public bins, but that's getting more and more difficult because most recycling centres have closed and there are fewer and fewer bins in town. Nearby, we find Andy, 43, who lives alone in a converted truck on the old tannery site. He said: 'I've tried living in houses and flats and I couldn't stand it. I needed fresh air and a sense of community around me, like I get here. 'Everyone here looks out for one another. I personally haven't had any hassle from the locals, but I'm aware of the reports of ill feeling in certain parts of the town. No one in our community looks for trouble. 'I've lived here since 2000 and every summer I work at the festival site managing a recycling yard. I love it. 'I hope to spend the rest of my days living here like this.' Andy's dream could be his neighbours nightmare however as many frustrated Glastonbury locals have long complained of the 'scourge' of the van dwellers. When the Daily Mail visited the town in 2024, tensions were high due to a new commune which had been set up in front of a string of residential homes. Richard Hill, 47, told the Daily Mail the encampment, which was later shut down, put him at his 'wit's end. He said: 'It was beautiful here until this mob of hippy thugs arrived. 'We've been sitting here trying to enjoy what's left of the views and had to watch them actually go to the toilet in front of us, in the middle of the field. 'They don't care. We have even seen a naked lady rolling around in the fields. I mean, it is just horrible to look at. 'They never pick up their litter, which I find odd, considering they're supposed to be people who love the earth. They leave their mess and filth strewn all over the place for others to clear up. 'As a result, the waste bins in the town are overflowing and the rubbish is constantly piled up everywhere you look. 'It is so unsanitary, but when you ask them to clear up you get a load of abuse off them. When it comes to foul language, they've got quite a vocabulary.' 2024: Local residents said they were fed up with the hippies' antisocial behaviour Furious resident Sue Hazlewood, 70, also said she has seen this issue outside her own home. 'The thing is, they just leave them there,' she said. 'And that means the council is going to have to spend more of our money taking them away. There are so many of them that I don't think the local authority has enough money to really clear up after them. 'These people have also caused a huge rat problem with their filth. 'They leave mess everywhere and couldn't care less. 'I've often seen them urinating and defecating right in front of people's homes. It isn't really what you want to see when you're trying to enjoy a nice stroll.' A spokesman for Somerset Council said: 'In February, we published the Somerset Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy for 2025-2030 which identifies a range of actions we will be undertaking to improve the situation across Somerset. However, this is an incredibly complex issue and one which will require a number of different and sensitive approaches. 'Activities being undertaken by Somerset Council by way of support include the Enabling Project – part of the Glastonbury Town Deal - which aims to improve the situation and with the development of a site to provide permanent provision, in consultation with the relevant communities and subject to deliverability. 'Additionally, the Council recognises that the issue is much bigger than one town and a wider approach is needed going forward. 'We have just secured Government funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to undertake a feasibility study that will consider sites in Somerset that could provide a range of designated spaces for temporary and permanent pitches. 'This study will provide the foundation for the Council to consider matters around funding and delivery options for sites across Somerset during 2025/26. 'An additional challenge, however, is finding appropriate sites. Mendip District Council and now Somerset Council have been trying to find land for sites since 2019 and this is complicated by the flood zone proximity to Glastonbury while also being sensitive to the views of landowners. 'We remain committed to finding solutions and our approach is set out in our 2025-2030 strategy.' A spokesman for Glastonbury Town Council said: 'Glastonbury Town Council works closely with various partners including Somerset Council, as Unitary Authority, on many matters in and around our town. This multi-agency approach devises and implements local solutions and improvements for residents, businesses and visitors alike.'
Daily Mail
41 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Asylum seekers 'move into' four-star Canary Wharf hotel under cover of darkness despite anti-migrant protests
People believed to be asylum seekers appear to have moved into a glitzy four-star hotel in London under the cover of darkness. A coach full of suspected migrants was seen arriving at the Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf at around 1.40am on Saturday morning. Tower Hamlets Council confirmed the Government intends to use the hotel - which has around 500 rooms - for asylum seekers in a move that has angered anti-migrant protesters and guests whose bookings have been cancelled. Footage of the passengers getting off the coach showed they were all men, with the vast majority dressed in matching grey tracksuit tops and bottoms. They were helped by masked security guards, some of whom appeared to be wearing body cameras. Last week, workers were seen hauling beds and mattresses into the hotel in preparation for the arrival of 'hundreds' of asylum seekers. A barricade of metal fencing was placed around the hotel by the Metropolitan Police after anti-migrant demonstrators protested the plan for immigrants to be housed there. Met Police officers were called to the Britannia International Hotel last week amid warnings the 'discontent is real' in Britain. Footage on social media shows eggs were thrown, while a police helicopter was circling above as officers on the ground blocked the entrance to the hotel which has more than 500 rooms and is located on the waterfront of the South Dock. The Canary Wharf protest did not reach the violence seen in Epping, with YouTuber-types making up a large proportion of the crowd in preparation for any tension. However, there were still dozens of protesters - some wearing masks and others draped in St George's flags. One placard said: 'This is a peaceful protest to protect our own.' Counter-protesters also gathered outside the scene - and in one clip appeared to be escorted away from the hotel by police as protesters followed behind. Furious hotel guests have left damning reviews online, claiming they were told their stays were 'cancelled'. One wrote: 'My confirmed reservation was cancelled less than 24 hours before my stay via a brief phone call, citing a 'private hire' event.' Another said: 'Completely unprofessional company. Hotel cancelled my booking at last minute because they had a bulk booking.' And a third fumed: 'Booked in for three nights on 18th July. Told we couldn't stay on Sunday night no explanation but waiter said they were closing. Left to go to other hotel 1 hr away on Sunday. Waste of a day.' While guests claimed they were not given a reason for the cancellations, a spokesman for Tower Hamlets Council confirmed: 'We are aware of the Government's decision to use the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf to provide temporary accommodation for asylum seekers. 'It is important that the Government ensures that there is a full package of support for those staying at the hotel. 'We are working with the Home Office and partners to make sure that all necessary safety and safeguarding arrangements are in place.' Local residents group chief Maxi Gorynski is an IT worker renting a high-rise flat in Canary Wharf. He made clear he wanted to distinguish himself and fellow residents from far-right demonstrators, saying they were 'notably distinct'. However, he told the Financial Times he was concerned the suspected asylum seekers could bring 'bag theft and gig economy fraud, all the way up to robbery, arson, sexual assault, rape, even murder' to their area. Felicity J Lord estate agent John Costea also told the FT that clients from the UK and abroad had asked 'many questions' about what is going on, such as 'how is it going to reflect their property value'. The Daily Mail has contacted the Home Office for comment. Protests have broken out across the country this summer, with more than 150 gathering outside The Park Hotel, in Diss, Norfolk last week after the Home Office announced plans to change it from housing asylum-seeker families to single men. Trouble first broke out in Epping two weeks ago after Ethiopian asylum seeker Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in the town by attempting to kiss her. He denies the charges. The protest started peacefully, but descended into frenzied violence when anti-migrant demonstrators clashed with counter protesters and police. Essex Police has faced major questions after footage emerged of officers escorting pro-migrant activists to the hotel - despite the force initially denying this has happened. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage posted footage allegedly showing pro-migrant protesters being 'bussed' to the demonstration in police vans but Essex Police said this was 'categorically' untrue. However, after footage emerged of cops leading pro-migrant activists to the hotel by foot, Essex police admitted its officers had escorted the protesters. Farage had called for Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington to quit, saying it was 'absolutely disgraceful' and 'heads must roll'. But Chief Constable Harrington rejected claims his officers had given a higher level of protection to pro-migrant protesters. He said: 'The only protection that officers are doing is to those lawful and law-abiding people, whether they are in that accommodation, whether they are the people of Epping or whether they are people who are standing there with placards and banners wishing to make a very important and legitimate view, whichever your views about it. 'Where officers have intervened that is because there has been are not being partial in any way, shape or form.' When asked if he would resign, he said: 'No, I am not going to do that. This is not about me, this is about the communities of Essex... the issue is not about my resignation.' He said Essex Police made 10 arrests, adding: 'What has been unacceptable has been the people who have come to Epping and committed violence, who have attacked people who work at the hotel, who have attacked officers, who have damaged property and who have caused fear and disruption to the people of Epping. 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Newly appointed shadow housing secretary Sir James Cleverly criticised the Prime Minister for a 'disconnect from reality' when it comes to housing asylum seekers.
Telegraph
41 minutes ago
- Telegraph
How to avoid expensive airport ‘kiss and fly' charges
If you're giving someone a lift to the airport this summer, watch out for 'kiss and fly' fees – the charges airports impose for dropping passengers near the terminal. More than half of UK airports have increased these fees since last July, with some now demanding as much as £7 for a 10-minute stop, according to research by the RAC. Fortunately, there are ways to avoid these charges, or at least keep them to a minimum – but you may need to be prepared to walk a little further with their luggage. Here, Telegraph Money explains how kiss and fly fees work, why they have been introduced and what you can do to keep costs down. What are 'kiss and fly' fees? 'Kiss and fly' fees refer to the charges that airports apply when someone drops off a passenger outside the terminal, typically in a designated short-stay or drop-off zone. In most cases, you'll be charged a flat fee simply for stopping outside the airport for five to 10 minutes. Stay longer, and you'll likely be charged even more. On top of this, many airports are now switching to a barrier-less drop-off and pick-up system to help traffic flow more freely and reduce waiting times. However, this means that instead of paying there and then, drivers must remember to pay for parking either online or by phone once they are home. Failing to do so could result in penalty fees of up to £100. Why have so many airports introduced kiss and fly fees? One of the reasons airports say they have introduced these fees is to reduce congestion at terminal entrances. However, the charges also serve as a significant source of revenue, helping airports to cover rising operational costs. Patrick Bettle, from the aviation team at law firm Burges Salmon, said: 'Ultimately airports are businesses like any other. 'Kiss and fly' fees provide them with another valuable revenue stream, something that has become increasingly important in the wake of the disruption caused to the travel industry by the Covid-19 pandemic. 'Airports, particularly those that are subject to economic regulation by the Civil Aviation Authority, are limited in the amount of revenue they can generate through things like landing charges; 'kiss and fly' fees provide a useful non-aeronautical supplement to that.' But the disappearance of free drop-offs at UK airports is in sharp contrast to other major European airports, says the RAC analysis. Of the top 10 airports in the EU by passenger numbers, eight airports still permit free drop-offs, including Paris Charles de Gaulle, Madrid, Frankfurt, Barcelona and Rome. Who pays kiss and fly fees and how much do they cost? Kiss and fly fees must be paid by anyone dropping off a passenger outside the airport terminal. This includes friends and family members, as well as taxi and private hire drivers. Taxi drivers often incorporate the fee into the overall taxi fare but be sure to check. Drop-off charges can range anywhere from £3 to £7 for a five-to-30-minute stay. The table below outlines how these fees can vary, depending on the airport.
