Elizabeth Atkin

Notting Hill Carnival 2026 will take place in west London on Sunday, August 30, and Monday, August 31, with a Children’s Day Parade on Sunday and an Adults’ Parade on Monday. The parade route covers Westbourne Grove, Ladbroke Grove, Kensal Road, Elkstone Road, Great Western Road and Chepstow Road. Extensive road closures will run from 6am on August 30 until 6am on September 1, while several Tube stations will be closed, exit-only or subject to crowd controls. Bus routes will be diverted and special services introduced. Additional bank-holiday engineering works and rail disruption, including reduced East Midlands Railway services and cancellations affecting LNER and Southern routes, are also expected.

A collection of inspirational New Year quotes, wishes and ready-to-send messages for welcoming 2026. The suggestions emphasize hope, fresh starts, personal goals, happiness, courage and optimism for the year ahead.

Long-standing New Year’s Day superstitions in various cultures warn against washing clothes, cleaning, sweeping floors, or taking out rubbish because these actions are believed to wash away loved ones, good luck, or prosperity. Other traditions suggest that spending the first day of the year on housework could set a pattern of hard work for the year ahead. The beliefs are described as myths, alongside customs such as eating 12 grapes, wearing white, and carrying an empty suitcase to invite good fortune.

A guide to 19 unusual New Year's Eve and New Year's Day traditions from around the world, including eating 12 grapes in Spain, wearing white in Brazil, carrying empty suitcases in Colombia, ringing 108 bells in Japan, smashing plates in Denmark, and burning effigies in Ecuador. The customs are presented as expressions of luck, prosperity, cleansing, rebirth, romance and fortune-telling, with some described as historical practices that are now less common.

A range of Christmas staples can be bought weeks ahead of December 25, provided shoppers check best-before dates and storage instructions. Suitable items include Christmas pudding ingredients and prepared puddings, dried stuffing mix, goose or duck fat, gravy granules, sauces, mincemeat, marzipan, chocolates, foil, baking parchment and cling film. Refrigeration is generally required after opening for products such as sauces and mincemeat, while some ready-made mince pies can be frozen.

Spotify is raising UK Premium prices from November, with the Individual plan increasing from £11.99 to £12.99 per month, Duo to £17.99 and Family to £21.99. The Student plan remains £5.99, while eligible new users can still receive a three-month free trial. The increase has prompted some subscribers to cancel and consider alternatives such as Apple Music. Premium provides ad-free listening, unlimited skips, offline downloads and access to the AI DJ, whereas the free tier includes ads, shuffle limitations and restricted skips.

A travel guide highlights destinations offering warm weather in October, ranging from European locations such as Tenerife, Sicily, Cyprus, Greece and Portugal to long-haul options including Mexico, the Seychelles, Australia, Oman, Dubai, Tahiti and Borneo. It provides typical temperatures, sunshine hours and flight times, alongside suggestions for beaches, cultural attractions, wildlife, nightlife and outdoor activities. The guide emphasizes that October can offer hot weather with fewer crowds or lower prices in some destinations, while noting that long flights and seasonal risks such as Mount Etna’s volcanic activity should be considered.

Montpellier is presented as an affordable alternative to Paris, offering a historic old town, medieval architecture, markets, museums and France’s oldest botanical garden. The South of France city is about 10 kilometres from the Mediterranean coast, with nearby beaches accessible by tram or car. September temperatures average around 25°C, while flights from London Gatwick were found for £85 return and accommodation from £33 per night. Late September to October is recommended for avoiding peak crowds while retaining warm weather.

Women’s Super League players earn an average of about £47,000 annually, although elite players such as Chelsea’s Sam Kerr reportedly earn more than £400,000. This remains far below the reported average Premier League salary of roughly £61,000 per week. The Football Association has paid England’s men’s and women’s senior teams equal match fees and bonuses since January 2020, with players receiving around £2,000 per match. England’s Lionesses also received a £55,000 bonus for winning Euro 2022 and were expected to receive further rewards after defending their European title in 2025.

Gdańsk is presented as an ideal European city break, offering a walkable centre, lively outdoor dining, manageable tourist numbers and extensive historical and cultural attractions. Highlights include the city’s waterfront, churches, museums, the European Solidarity Centre and nearby Malbork Castle. The trip also features Polish food and vodka experiences, with restaurants and local specialities receiving strong praise. Gdańsk is portrayed as a compelling but somewhat under-visited alternative to Poland’s better-known destinations, with enough variety for a relaxed long weekend.

Sue Cleaver is leaving Coronation Street after 25 years as Eileen Grimshaw, saying she wants to embrace change and pursue new adventures as she approaches 60. She is married to Brian Owen, an ITV lighting technician whom she met on the Corrie set, and was previously married to actor James Quinn, with whom she has a son, Elliott. Cleaver is also a grandmother and has spoken about her family’s support during a serious sepsis battle. Her final scenes involve Eileen coping with her sister’s death and the return of her son Jason, while the article also outlines several other recent and upcoming Coronation Street cast exits.