8 h. ago 'Serious' ID law is catching British people out when visiting European country

People are urged to brush up on the rules and regulations for the country they're going to before heading to the airport

Politics

8 h. ago The pub that changed me: ‘I was snowed in there for four days’

We had a mass snowball fight and a disco, and I slept in a room full of drunk men with wet socks. It was fun, but in future snowstorms I won’t be rushing to the pubIn all my years of reporting, nothing seems to fascinate people more than the four days I spent snowed in at Britain’s highest pub last year. It was early January and the Met Office had issued severe warnings for snow. It dawned on me that people were about to live out a British fantasy of being snowed in at their local pub. I knew where I needed to be: The Tan Hill Inn, high up in the wilderness on the very northern edge of the Yorkshire Dales national park. Continue reading...

Politics

8 h. ago Why are British people so obsessed with bins? | Polly Hudson

Our nation’s fascination with rubbish knows no bounds – as was proved by one recent online debateEven if you’ve never been anywhere near it, the Mumsnet message board is legendary. Since it launched in 2000, it has changed the vernacular – “am I being unreasonable?” is not just a question, it’s a shorthand for the type of person who asks it – and introduced us to the penis beaker (one maverick husband’s postcoital hygiene regime, made infamous). It’s a screenshot of society, a cultural thermometer; if it’s happening on Mumsnet, it’s big news. And one of the most popular recent threads is about bins.The post that kicked it off was written by a woman who lived opposite an empty house where tenants had moved out. The landlord popped round late at night to drag the bins out for collection, and the next morning, at 6.45am, she could hear the lorry approaching. The coast was clear, and she still had a backlog of rubbish from Christmas. Deciding it was a victimless crime, she slipped one o...

Politics

52 h. ago AI translations of British Sign Language 'risks new barriers' for deaf people

Charities and MPs raised concerns about the use of AI to translate BSL, with Labour MP Jen Craft explaining deaf people were being brought in to road test the AI too late

Events

4 d. ago Downfall of huge drug cartel as coke kingpin is caught trying to flee UK in taxi

A total of 15 people have been sentenced for their involvement in a British drug gang after its leader and his right-hand-man were caught trying to flee in a taxi

Events

5 d. ago 'I visited European island where people live past 100 and now know the secret'

A journalist visited a Greek island, one of the world's longest-lived communities, and she was floored after speaking to medical experts and energetic 100-year-olds

Society

6 d. ago Eurovision song contest to go on tour to celebrate 70th anniversary

‘Iconic performers’ will visit 10 European cities, as event reels from boycott over Israel’s 2026 participation The Eurovision song contest will go on its first ever tour to celebrate its 70th anniversary, its organiser has said, as it reels from a boycott due to Israel’s participation.Five countries have pulled out of the contest over Israel’s war in Gaza, leaving 35 to participate in the world’s biggest live televised music event – the fewest since entry was expanded in 2004. Continue reading...

Culture

7 d. ago UK town with 'friendliest people on Earth' where visitors arrive 'by the coach

Visitors stop by for breakfast, banter and the large market.

Politics

8 d. ago British talent fuels rise in value of home entertainment market

Streaming remains the audience’s top choice for watching at home but figures show that Blu-ray and DVDs are still the first choice for many customers.

Politics

9 d. ago Commuters have misheard the transport police's 'See it, Say it' slogan for years

The British Transport Police came up with a catchy slogan to encourage people to report suspicious activity while travelling by train – but many have been mishearing it for years

Events

1 week ago Government urged to make nutrition labels on front of food packaging mandatory

Which? called on the Government to make the change amid what it described as an ‘obesity crisis’.

Politics

1 week ago Visiting EU leaders pledge to support Syria's recovery after years of civil war

European Union officials have visited Syria for the first time to meet with interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa

Politics

1 week ago Two British Airways passengers break their ANKLES during horror turbulence on plane from LA to Heathrow

TWO people on a British Airways flight from London to Los Angeles suffered broken ankles after turbulence mid-flight. The shocking incident occurred just 20 minutes after the seat belt signs were switched off. Breaking News... More to Follow

Society

1 week ago British Airways flight sees 2 people suffer broken ankles after plane hit by turbulence

A report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has revealed that two people on the same British Airways flight have both suffered broken ankles during turbulence

Events

2 w. ago 'I'm an American in the UK – British people are crazy over 1 confusing word'

Russell Valentin has been trying out all the different names Brits have for a 'bread roll' and has admitted that while being British 'is fun', it's also very confusing at times

Politics

2 w. ago DAN CARDEN: Why I will not stand by and watch my party break a solemn pledge to the British people

DAN CARDEN: It is the time of promises and resolutions for the new year ahead. For all of us, it is a time to hope that no matter how 2025 turned out, the next 12 months will be different.

Politics

2 w. ago ‘Playing in a war zone isn’t for most people’: the British band braving drone strikes and pneumonia to tour Ukraine

How did an Aussie, a Texan, an Irishman and three Cumbrians find themselves on the road on the Ukrainian frontline? For classic rock collective Hardwicke Circus, it was a no-brainer: ‘We thought they’d like to hear some rock’n’roll’ It is late October and, 10 kilometres from the frontline in Donetsk, east Ukraine, the inhabitants of a reconditioned ambulance are completely lost. While opening your phone and logging on to a maps app might appear the obvious solution, this would be extremely unwise here: Russian drones are overhead and hunting for any signals.Inside the van are a motley crew: an 81-year-old Irish music industry veteran; a 72-year-old Texas rocker; an Australian keyboardist; a Ukrainian saxophonist; and three twenty-something musicians from Carlisle, Cumbria. Their destination is a military base where they are to perform for Ukrainian troops. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Ten European destinations cheap right now that you’ll love visiting in 2026

From sun-drenched beach getaways to historic city breaks, these destinations offer incredible value for money and are some of the most affordable places to visit in Europe in 2026

Politics

2 w. ago From bon appetit to Uber Eats: why France’s beloved restaurants are in crisis | Paul Taylor

When I started as a reporter in Paris in the 1970s, long, boozy lunches were the norm. Now only fast food and fine dining are thrivingSpare a thought for the poor French restaurateur. Once the iconic image of a sybaritic nation that loved nothing more than a boozy meal out with friends or colleagues, the French restaurant is in deep crisis. Traditional restaurants are closing faster than you can shout “garçon!”, as eating habits change and the cost of living pinches.“It’s a catastrophe for our profession,” Franck Chaumès, president of the restaurant branch of the Union of Hospitality Trades and Industries (UMIH) said in a television interview recently. “Some 25 restaurants are going out of business every day.” The UMIH has demanded – so far in vain – that the government ration the opening of new restaurants, in proportion to the local population, and license only professionals who are qualified in cooking and accounting.Paul Taylor is a senior visiting fellow at the European Policy ...

Events

2 w. ago ‘Shameful’ 41,000 people reached UK by small boat last year, says Home Office

Second highest annual number of irregular arrivals on record reached British shores in 2025More than 41,000 people crossed the Channel in small boats last year, figures branded “shameful” by the Home Office have revealed.The government said 41,472 people arrived in the UK by crossing the Channel in 2025 – the second highest number on record after 45,774 made the journey in 2022. Continue reading...

Society