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Daily Mirror
08-08-2025
- Daily Mirror
The stunning destination crowned UK's happiest holiday spot for families
A survey has revealed the UK's happiest staycation destination, with an 'active, scenic and wildlife-watching' holiday experience providing the most happiness As foreign travel becomes increasingly pricey, more and more Brits are opting for staycations, particularly families seeking a summer getaway. After all, the key to a great holiday is happiness, which can take many forms - from shared laughter during a coastal walk to savouring a hearty pub lunch after a day of wildlife spotting. With this in mind, the team at have unveiled the UK's top staycation spots guaranteed to put a smile on your face. The findings were based on a survey of 2,000 people, aimed at determining the UK's happiest holiday destination. The Isle of Wight took the top spot, with its enchanting coastline and golden beaches earning high praise. The experts lauded the island as having "all the ingredients for happiness". There's no shortage of activities to suit all tastes, whether you're a history buff, beach lover, hiking enthusiast or an adrenaline-junkie family. Families can spend their summer days building sandcastles on the stunning beaches of Shanklin or Sandown. For those seeking a bit of excitement then head to Blackgang Chine to visit the UK's oldest theme park. One satisfied visitor who chose the Isle of Wight for their holiday gushed: "On the Isle of Wight; it's tranquil and so magical. It's a very unique place for a holiday for all the family, including the family pet." Following closely behind was the stunning Welsh county of Pembrokeshire, whilst Hampshire, which boasts the New Forest National Park, secured third position. Reflecting on the Happiest Places survey, Sarah Pring from remarked: "Joy and happiness can be found in so many areas of life - whether that's getting active in some of the UK's most scenic locations, sharing a laugh with family over fish and chips on the beach, or seeing the wonder of wildlife through the eyes of your children. "Though everyone's happy place is different, we wanted to explore some of the shared moments of happiness experienced across the UK, as many families look for last-minute breaks over the summer holidays. "We hope our research inspires more people to enjoy a UK staycation and find their own happy place - who knows, it might just be one of the destinations on this list." The UK's happiest family staycations Isle of Wight Pembrokeshire Hampshire East Riding of Yorkshire Lancashire Ceredigion Cornwall Dorset Norfolk Lincolnshire
Daily Mirror
17-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Parents could get up to £200 for school uniforms - but you need to act quickly
Families across the UK could be due up to £200 before the next school year starts As the summer holidays are in full swing, it will be long before parents and their children find themselves back in uniform shops and stationery stores, gearing up for the upcoming school year. The School Uniforms Grant could help thousands of families reduce the cost of this often expensive shopping trip. The scheme is provided by certain local councils, meaning the amount you receive, eligibility criteria, and application deadlines can vary from one area to another. However, not all councils offer these grants. Only 22 in England provide the scheme, while all local authorities in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales do. In Northern Ireland, parents can receive up to £93.60 per child by applying through the Education Authority, but you will need to act quickly as the deadline is July 25. Scotland offers a minimum of £120, but the exact amount and deadline will depend on the council. Parents can access their council's application form on the website. In Wales, parents can receive up to £200 per child by using their council's application form on by May 31, 2026. English councils providing grants and this year and how much is available, according to Money-Saving Expert: Barnet - £100 Barnsley - £100 Bolton - £30 City of London - £160 Cumberland - £100 East Riding of Yorkshire - £40 Greenwich - £150 Hackney - £100 Hammersmith and Fulham - £79 Haringey - £60 Hounslow - £60 Islington - £150 Hull - £40 North Lincolnshire - £30 Rotherham - £70 Sandwell - £25 Southwark - £45 Tower Hamlets - £150 Wandsworth - £170 Westmorland and Furness - £70 Westminster - £150 York - £100 For most of these councils, you can apply via the authority's website. However, for Barnsley, East Riding of Yorkshire, Hull, Rotherham, Wandsworth and York, the vouchers are issued automatically. In Westminster, the funding is distributed by schools so you will need to contact them to apply. Some councils also have a deadline to apply for the scheme for the 2025/2026 academic year. Barnet's is the earliest at July 31, followed by Southwark on August 11, Tower Hamlets on September 30, Sandwell in January, and Haringey in March. The Money-Saving Expert website noted that while each council sets their own criteria, a general minimum requirement to get the grant in England is qualifying for means-tested free school meals, but this does not mean you have to receive them. This usually includes getting certain benefits like Universal Credit. According to government data from April this year, parents are shelling out an average of £442 for a full secondary school kit per child. Primary school kits are only slightly more affordable at £343 per child. The cost spurred the government to introduce a proposed new law in the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which restricts the number of branded items a school can mandate as part of their uniform. These items usually come with a heftier price tag, and the proposed legislation would limit schools to specifying a maximum of three in their uniform. This cap could potentially slash £70million off the national school uniform bill. The Bill is currently under review in the committee stage in the House of Lords.
