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Sunday World
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
We dip into the stunning, scenic and storied English city
bath finder | As Jane Austen turns 250, we head to the city that the author once called home And for the celebrated British author of the 1817 novel it has certainly proved the case. It's Jane Austen's 250th birthday this year, but the passage of two and a half centuries hasn't sated the worldwide appetite for her literary works, two more being Emma and Mansfield Park. Quite the opposite, in fact, with everything from Bridget Jones to Bridgerton giving new life to her iconic creations, and the universal truth that 'we are all fools in love', in recent years. The historic ancient Roman baths And so it is, on a sunny spring day in 2025, that I find myself gazing up at a lifelike figurine of Mr Darcy, or at least what we all imagine the brooding heartthrob to look like ever since a sopping wet Colin Firth emerged from a lake in the 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. The white shirt, presumably now dry, sold at auction for £25,000 in the UK last year. But there are still plenty of other Irish linen shirts, as well as Regency-style day dresses, shawls and bonnets in the vein of Elizabeth Bennet to try on at The Jane Austen Centre in Bath, Somerset. Austen's hometown of Hampshire, where she was born and died at just 41, naturally holds the greatest claim to the scribe on this, her semiquincentennial. The Jane Austen Festival's fab costumes Some 68 miles away, however, Bath also boasts a special place in the heart of Janeites all over the globe, with the 'City of Pleasures', where she lived for five years, the backdrop to two of her six novels. Whether you've devoured her entire back catalogue, or never read a single word, the fascinating immersive centre ( is as good a jumping off point as any for visitors hoping to get a better understanding of the trailblazing writer and the imprint she left on the world. Remarkably, yet in keeping with the social mores of the day when young women were expected to be more concerned with finding a husband than their narrative voice, it wasn't until after death that her name appeared on her books, originally simply credited as being penned 'By a Lady'. Spires in the skyline But, between Austen-themed festivals, food offerings and filming locations, among other frivolities, the Georgian city, reachable from Bristol Airport in about 40 minutes by bus, more than makes up for it today. Flanked by my very own Martha Lloyd, Austen's closest friend, on a two-night trip to Bath, I jumped aboard the unmistakable red Tootbus to get a sense (and sensibility) of where to begin. Priced from £24.50, the company ( offers a number of hop on-hop off tours including Bath Discovery and Hop on with Jane Austen in Bath, although must-see attractions like historic Bath Abbey and the ancient Roman Baths are all perfectly walkable, even in a flouncy ball dress. Sally Lunn's restaurant Conveniently, there was a stop for both routes taken by the double-decker right outside my hotel: one taking in more city centre landmarks like the famed Royal Crescent and Guildhall Market, the other sweeping high above the city past the spectacular Pulteney Bridge and Prior Park Landscape Garden. Based on North Parade, that's not the only good reason to stay at the four-star Abbey Hotel, with the boutique property also just a proverbial stone's throw from the main shopping street, and its maze of side streets running the gamut from high fashion to handmade fudge. Conscious of another of Jane's pearls of wisdom, to 'go and eat and drink a little more, and you will do very well', I took a creamy vanilla slab of the stuff back to my suitably refined double room for later, before heading for dinner at the nearby Sally Lunn's restaurant ( , home to the yeast dough bun that is to Bath what the blaa is to Waterford, and where everything is served on a slab of the bread — and all the better for it. . You couldn't possibly celebrate the author's milestone birthday, though, without indulging in the tower of dainty sandwiches and delicate cakes that were popular in her day, and still to this one, and there are traditional tea rooms on virtually every corner of the World Heritage city. After following in her footsteps on a hugely entertaining walking tour run by Strictly Jane Austen ( , and hearing of her ill-fated love affair with Limerick lawyer Thomas Lefroy, who went on to become Chief Justice of Ireland, and who's widely accepted as the inspiration for Mr Darcy, we finished with afternoon tea at the elegant Gainsborough hotel ( . Today's parents may be frantic trying to decipher the true meaning of their teens' textspeak, but as our charming part-Irish guide Theresa Roche explains, when it came to flirting, back then it was all about the art of the fan, which certainly seems a lot more sophisticated than simply swiping left or right. Not that Jane and her peers were the first to help turn Bath into the most fashionable city outside of London. The Abbey Hotel, Bath The true source of its popularity — and, obviously, its name — sprang up far earlier with its healing waters, and you know what they say: when in Rome, or in this case Bath, do as the Romans do. As well as exploring the original bathing site, elsewhere you can simmer away in the warm mineral-rich waters at the modern-day Thermae Bath Spa, before relaxing in a Roman steam room, with the £42 admission price worth it for the amazing rooftop view of the city alone ( . For all this year's pageantry, Jane, it has to be said, had a complicated relationship with the city, where the family fell on hard times after the death of her father, something which is being explored by an exhibition entitled, 'The Most Tiresome Place in the World: Jane Austen & Bath', running at No. 1 Royal Crescent until November. Over two centuries on, and two days later, however, for this 'obstinate, headstrong girl', at least, there is much to ardently admire about Bath. See and for more Deirdre exploring in Bath ■ How to get there: Aer Lingus Regional operates flights between Dublin and Bristol up to three times daily, with fares starting at €29.99 one-way. The airline also operates a Cork to Bristol service up to two times daily, with fares starting at €39.99 one-way. Book at ■ Where to stay: The central Abbey Hotel has everything from Cosy Print rooms to Gallery Family rooms, starting from £157 per night, including a hearty breakfast. There are even dog-friendly rooms so you can bring four-legged members of the family. Visit ■ Where to eat: Jane probably wasn't a lover of pizza, but those empire line frocks would have been handy for feasting on bulging burgers and bottomless brunch in Bath Pizza Co, which is a former train station. ■ Come for the reasonably-priced fare, and stay for the live music and friendly staff. See
Wales Online
20-05-2025
- Wales Online
You can fly Ryanair from Bristol Airport for just £30 return to this stunning 'pink city' in France
You can fly Ryanair from Bristol Airport for just £30 return to this stunning 'pink city' in France Sometimes going abroad can be cheaper than a 'staycation' in the UK, and this is the case when you can get flights to France for less than the price of a train ticket Toulouse is decribed as The Pink City due to the terra-cotta bricks used in many of its buildings (Image: Myriam from Pixabay ) Are you trying to pick a cheap getaway for yourself, a loved one or maybe even the entire family? Well, with the price of absolutely everything increasing thanks to inflation and the cost-of-living, one thing seems to be dropping in price. Flights abroad have been fluctuating in price ever since the Covid-19 pandemic, and "staycations" became the new it thing. Although, why would you stay in the UK when it can actually be cheaper to go abroad. Ryanair now has return flights to Toulouse in the south of France for just £30 from Bristol. When trains to London from Cardiff can sometimes set you back around £60 for an open return, why wouldn't you go to the country of wine, bread and cheese instead? From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here Toulouse is also called "La Ville Rose", or in English, "The Pink City", due to the terracotta bricks used in many of its buildings. It's located roughly three hours from the border with Andorra, and around two and half hours from Bordeaux. The city is on the banks of the River Garonne and the Canal du Midi, but don't let its serene and beautiful nature fool you as it is also the fourth largest city in France, and a home to a population of roughly 511,684 people. Its old town, also known as the Vieux Quartier (Old Quarter) includes colourful shopfronts and churches. Throughout June, you can get flights from Bristol to Toulouse for £15 each way. Despite not including luggage, speedy boarding or seat allocation, this still works out as an absolute bargain to get away to start the Summer. Article continues below There are Ryanair return flights to Toulouse from Bristol in June for just £30 (Image: RyanAir ) It does include a small carry-on (40cm x 20cm x 25cm) which will fit under the seat in front of you, which is enough room if you are just heading over for a couple of days. If you are heading for a week or longer, we recommend taking a bigger bag (10kg) which costs £26.99 each way to put in the hold, which still make your flights only £83.98 When weighing up whether or not to book a caravan in West Wales for a family of four or a trip to Toulouse, the holiday abroad actually works out a lot cheaper. Hotels and Airbnbs in the city can range from £70 a night for four people (making it £17.50 per person, per night). Toulouse is also a city with great public transport, meaning you can easily travel from the airport by tram, bus or if you are a nervous traveller, taxis don't seem to be priced too highly either. The flights are a little more expensive in July and August, which can be expected as they near the school holidays but they can still cost as little as £41 in July and £95 in August. You can find more information about the flights on the Ryanair website here. Article continues below If you were to fly with EasyJet from Bristol to Toulouse, the cheapest return journey (from June 6 to June 13) will cost £162.17. This also doesn't include luggage, speedy boarding or seat allocation. However, companies like EasyJet do offer holiday packages for two people for as low as £398 per person, these include flights and a hotel for a week in the southern French city.
South Wales Argus
20-05-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Bristol Airport is taking legal action against the Welsh Government
A letter written to the Welsh Government on behalf of Bristol Airport demands information on their £205 million subsidy for Cardiff Airport. The letter comes in response to news that the cost for the state funding of Cardiff Airport is set to increase to £286 per household. In a 'scathing letter' to Welsh Government Minister Rebecca Evans MS, Bristol Airport highlighted how the proposed subsidy would exceed Cardiff Airport's current annual turnover. Bristol Airport said the funding over the 10-year period has potential to distort competition, and risks reducing air travel choice for customers, including those living in South Wales. Bristol Airport is taking legal action against the Welsh Government (Image: NQ) Dave Lees, Chief Executive Officer at Bristol Airport, raised concern over Welsh Government's refusal to detail sufficient information on the public subsidy and how it will be spent. Mr Lees said: 'We have publicly called for details to be urgently made available on the proposed subsidy including the benefits it will deliver, what alternatives have been considered, how the impacts have been assessed, in the context of the significant additional cost burden to the taxpayer in Wales. 'There have been repeated attempts by Members of the Senedd and others to seek further detail on how Welsh Government intends to respond to the concerns raised in the CMA assessment has also been unsuccessful, resulting in a serious lack of transparency around this unprecedented subsidy in UK aviation, which is being funded at great expense by the taxpayer. 'It is therefore appropriate for our legal team to make a formal pre-application request to the Welsh Government for more detailed information on the proposed subsidy, as there has been insufficient detail published or shared to date to fully understand how the subsidy will be used.' The chief executive of Regional & City Airports, which is responsible for Bournemouth and Exeter, also criticised Welsh Government's plans. Andrew Bell said it: 'raises fundamental questions about fairness, transparency, and the strategic direction of regional aviation policy in the UK.'
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Headlines: 'Bristol Airport row with Cardiff' and 'murder trial collapses'
Here's our daily pick of stories from across local websites in the West of England, and interesting content from social media. Our pick of local website stories Wales Online's Bristol Airport v Cardiff Airport story has sparked a lot of interest. The story comes after the Welsh government gave Cardiff Airport a subsidy. Bosses at Bristol Airport reportedly said the grant distorts to clean up the River Tone after tests showed poor hygiene for bathers has been published by Somerset Cotswold Wildlife Park has been named the UK's best zoo for the second year in a row, according Gloucestershire Live. Our top three from yesterday What to watch on social media The partner of Mike Harper who died during Bristol Half Marathon last year has posted on Reddit saying she "finished the race he couldn't". She says Mike – who was 26 - collapsed 200 metres from the finish line from an undiagnosed heart lots of people have been commenting on Swindon Borough Council's post about a new specialist early years centre for children with special educational needs is opening in June in Bristol ARC says it took in 17 animals on Thursday, the highest in a single day this year – and bosses are asking for support.
Daily Mirror
15-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Brit flies to sunny Benidorm for a night and it cost less than train to London
Carole Rees, from Rhondda, spent £200 on a trip to Benidorm in Spain compared to a day out in London, which she said would have set her back considerably more A travel influencer explained how her jaunt to sunny Benidorm was more cost-effective than catching a train to London. Seasoned traveller Carole Rees, from Rhondda in Wales, managed to spend only £200 on her Spanish escapade as opposed to splashing out more on a day trip in the UK capital. While the reasonably priced £35 flight whisked her from Bristol airport to Alicante, a staggering train fare of up to £170 could be the cost for a return journey from Cardiff to London. Carole, 45, said: "I took a 6am flight from Bristol Airport to Alicante, and stayed in a full board hotel in Benidorm overnight. "You can do the trip much cheaper by not staying overnight but I think it was worth every penny. I had the most amazing 24 hours there." Carole asserted with joy: "If I went for a night out back home or took a day trip to London I would have spent a lot more – plus you get to soak up the sun!" Not only was Carole's trip cheaper than a day out to London, it turned out to be pretty quick as she boarded a 45-minute shuttle bus transfer from Alicante airport to her hotel in Benidorm. The savings don't stop at the airport - something that Carole has also discovered on her travels. She went straight to her hotel restaurant and enjoyed a Spanish buffet, included in her full-board £76 hotel price for one night. After topping up her energy, Carole was eager to see what the city had to offer, reports Wales Online. She explained: "I went on a stroll through the city and it felt so good to feel that sun on my skin. It was stunning. "I then walked along Llevant Beach, Benidorm's main beach, and went shopping along the seafront. After my walk, I went back to my hotel's rooftop bar and enjoyed the stunning view of Benidorm's seafront." Carole never felt like she was racing against time. She spent her evening on the well-known Benidorm strip - a buzzing 1.3km stretch known for its vibrant nightlife and bars, taking advantage of 7€ (less than £6) two for one cocktail deals. Recounting the closure of her day, she said: "It was the perfect trip which I finished off by going back to my hotel to gaze at Benidorm's beautiful views while sipping red wine – and I was back in bed by 10pm." In the morning, Carole also visited Benidorm's Old Town, a district boasting historic Spanish architecture from the 14th century, where she meandered before catching her 4pm flight. "I worked out I spent £200 in total. All my food was included so I only spent around £40 on wine, and cocktails as well as a bit on tips." Carole concluded: "If you're considering doing a trip I'd say do it. It's so much fun. I can't wait for my next one." Below is how Carole broke down the costs for her whirlwind Benidorm getaway: £30 from Cardiff to Bristol Airport (return) with Airport Tavern. £35 flights with Ryanair from Bristol Airport. £20 airport transfer from Alicante to Benidorm (return) with Beniconnect. £76 full board accommodation at Port Benidorm Hotel & Spa with £40 on drinks. Maximillian Schwerdtfeger, a representative from the money saving group EcoExperts, said: "Aviation contributes to 2.5% to global carbon emissions, and that won't come down until alternative means of travel are cheaper. The UK has some of the highest-priced train tickets in Europe. "Companies and governing bodies should do more to make aviation transport cheaper." Meanwhile, Cardiff's Karen Marin Reyes, who runs the travel agency La Vida, offered her insights: "With return train tickets costing up to £110 from Cardiff, it's not surprising to see so many UK travellers going abroad. We're seeing more people attend our travel agents who swapped their domestic travel plans for a holiday in Spain or Greece. "We have deals from Bristol to Barcelona return flights at £95 - nearly £100 cheaper than return train tickets from Cardiff to London. It's still cheaper once you factor in a £10 train to Bristol from Cardiff Central." Expressing her own travel psyche, Karen adds: "Personally, I've decided not to travel to London go abroad instead. You have to pay up to £110 for a return ticket, but then I've also spent up to £200 while I'm there- eating out and going for drinks."
