12 West Midlands Castles for a 2026 Family Trip
Discover 12 historic castles in the West Midlands perfect for a 2026 family day out. Explore ruins, royal homes, and legends from Kenilworth to Dudley.
Discover 12 historic castles in the West Midlands perfect for a 2026 family day out. Explore ruins, royal homes, and legends from Kenilworth to Dudley.
Boxing Day proved a 'bumper day' for UK retail as footfall jumped 4.4%, the strongest increase in over ten years. Discover how high streets, retail parks, and coastal towns performed.
Emergency services called to Budleigh Salterton after swimmers got into difficulty. Two men remain missing as police urge people not to swim on Boxing Day.
Plan your 2026 holidays now. Christmas Day on a Friday creates a long weekend, with Boxing Day moving to Monday. See all the key dates for England and Wales.
The UK faces a six-day snow event starting January 1st, with maps showing widespread flurries. Find out which regions are most at risk and the latest Met Office forecast.
Your complete guide to the Boxing Day TV schedule across major UK channels. Discover the best films, festive specials, and family shows to enjoy on 26th December 2025.
This festive quiz explores what your surname might hint about your family history this Christmas. Discover your festive family score and the stories behind the names.
Forgot a crucial item on Christmas Day? Don't panic. Our guide reveals which shops can legally open, from small convenience stores to petrol stations, to save your festive day.
Fitness coach Joe Wicks explains his relatable reason for taking Christmas Day off, details his New Year's Day ITV special with Olly Murs, and shares his phone-use resolution for 2026.
The Met Office predicts a mostly dry, cold, and bright Christmas Day 2025 for the UK, with a brisk wind and a very low chance of snow. Find out the full festive forecast.
Discover a seasoned shopper's strategy for the Boots Boxing Day Sale. Learn how to grab luxury fragrances, gift sets, and electricals at up to 70% off, plus key dates for online bargains.
Discover why Weston-super-Mare remains a favourite festive beach destination for Birmingham families. Explore donkey rides, the Sky Wheel, and the Grand Pier, all within a two-hour drive.
Noah's Ark Zoo Farm brings back its popular Kids Go Free offer from Dec 27 to Feb 1, helping families enjoy an affordable wildlife day out. Includes details on Christmas tree recycling.
Halfords announces a 72-hour Christmas closure across Birmingham, including Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Drivers urged to plan ahead. Read the full festive schedule.
Comedian Jason Manford returns to host the Royal Variety. We explore his career, his first marriage's breakdown after a sexting scandal, and his life with six children in a blended family.
The Brecon Mountain Railway in Wales has been ranked as one of Europe's top ten most scenic train journeys. Just over two hours from Birmingham, it offers a stunning and affordable day out.
Find the full list of 42 Wetherspoons pubs open in the West Midlands on Christmas Day 2024, offering festive meals and company for those alone. Discover your local.
The Met Office forecasts a cold, frosty Christmas for the UK with temperatures dropping. Find out the detailed forecast for Christmas Day and Boxing Day, including Birmingham's outlook.
Plan your Boxing Day 2025 shopping in the West Midlands. See opening hours for Bullring, Merry Hill, The Fort, Resorts World and more. Check which major stores are closed.
JD Wetherspoon confirms 683 pubs open on Christmas Day 2025, including many across Birmingham and the West Midlands. See the full local list and festive menu details here.
Pupils at Loughborough Schools Foundation have raised nearly £2,000 for Rainbows Hospice and delivered 50 festive hampers to vulnerable residents across the East Midlands.
Plan your Boxing Day shopping with our guide to UK supermarket opening hours. Find out which major retailers are open and which are giving staff a break.
The UK faces a 15-hour snow event targeting 16 counties, including Birmingham and London, potentially disrupting Christmas Eve and Christmas Day travel. Get the latest forecast details.
Birmingham Airport colleagues raised £18,680.91 for Birmingham Children's Hospital Charity in a unique runway fun run. Discover how the 1980s-themed event brought the community together.
Over 500 participants lit up Endcliffe Park for Sheffield Children's Hospital Charity's annual Glow in the Park fun run, raising more than £28,000. The funds will support the Art+ programme.
A bride suffered life-changing injuries after plunging 25ft from a hotel window on her wedding night. Read the full court details and outcome of her negligence claim.
Darlington Mind's festive fun run saw 300 participants raise over £5,000 for local mental health services. The event, sponsored by EE and Aldi, enjoyed sunshine and festive cheer.
Mary Prytherch, a 55-year-old carer from Wrexham, is tackling her first-ever 5k race in a full elf costume. The festive fun run on December 7 raises funds for Alzheimer's Society and Children with Cancer UK.
UK households can claim up to £10 for electricity used on Christmas Day via Uswitch's Power Hours scheme. Sign up by December 21 to secure the refund as energy bills are set to rise.
Challenge yourself with our Thursday trivia quiz. Questions range from Tolkien's Lord of the Rings to Labour Party history. Can you beat the final score?