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Take care this summer by swimming at lifeguarded spots, acclimatising to the cold, and knowing how to float on your back if you get into trouble. Enjoy the water safely this summer (Alamy/PA) As the summer holidays get underway, taking a dip in your local lake, river, or sea might seem like a great refreshing way to kick off the season. However, open-water swimming presents unique risks and challenges that shouldn’t be overlooked. “People often overestimate their own ability

Looking for the best family days out in South Wales? Whether your family loves exciting attractions, incredible animals, historic castles or lots of outdoor fun, you'll find plenty to explore. We've rounded up the very best family-friendly attractions, hidden gems and budget-friendly days out in and around South Wales to help you create unforgettable memories, whatever the season, the weather or your budget. Inside The Royal Mint Experience The Royal Mint Experience Discover

If your perfect summer day involves great food, live music, and plenty of family fun, then make sure the Caerphilly Cheese Festival is firmly pencilled into your diary. Caerphilly Cheese Festival Returning on 29–30 August 2026, this much-loved festival transforms the heart of Caerphilly into a foodie paradise, celebrating the town’s world-famous cheese while serving up an irresistible mix of entertainment, shopping and delicious local produce. More Than Just Cheese Of course,

Bringing vacation-inspired vibes into your home is easier than you think, says Sam Wylie-Harris. How to bring holiday-inspired style into your home (Bleu Canard Design/Houzz Pro/PA) A sunseeker’s dream, recreating your heavenly escape in your own living space has its rewards, especially from a wellbeing angle – holidays make us happy! But the reality can be a bit daunting when trying to nail the right aesthetic; sometimes the temptation is to overthink it, and end up getting

Roasting sweet potatoes helps bring out the flavour. Anthea Malialis’ spicy hot honey sweet potato (Hannah Hughes/PA) “Crispy sweet potatoes stuffed with spicy taco beef, cottage cheese, avocado and a drizzle of hot honey – absolute dinner goals!” says Anthea Malialis. “A twist on the viral chilli beef hot honey bowl with serious flavour.” Spicy taco beef sweet potato with hot honey Ingredients: (Serves 2) Prep: 15 minutes Cook: 45-60 minutes 2 large sweet potatoes 2tbsp oliv

If you’re bored of wearing your midi skirts this summer – here are 5 stylish alternatives. Here are the five stylish alternatives to midi skirts this summer (Alamy/PA) The midi skirt is arguably the most dependable wardrobe hero for summer – being versatile enough to dress up or dress down, universally flattering and simple enough to go with almost all your pieces. But this season, it seems the old faithful is taking a break with the likes of jorts, capris and silky pyjama tr

Protect your wellbeing and money by following these tips on your next holiday. Staying vigilant helps prevent several major risks (Alamy/PA) Holidays are the time to relax, but falling victim to a scam can quickly turn a dream trip into a nightmare. With the rise of technology such as AI making scams increasingly sophisticated, staying alert and vigilant while abroad has never been more important. “The amount of due diligence you need to do as the consumer today to avoid bein

Hairdressers break down how easy it is to get this effortless look. Jennifer Aniston is a celebrity who models effortless French highlights (Alamy/PA) Synonymous with elegance, the French have mastered the art of natural beauty, so it’s no surprise that a low-maintenance take on colouring, the French highlights, is this summer’s most covetable hair trend. Unlike bold, eye-catching hair colour, French highlights are designed to be barely detectable, instead enhancing the hair’

Taking just 30 minutes to get from car drop-off to cabin balcony, Amy Crowther discovered the delightful simplicity of a short cruise. Sunrise on the Ambience as she sails into Ijmuiden, on the Dutch coast (Sian Williams/PA) “It will take us about five hours to reach the mouth of the Thames,” captain Egil Aune tells us on the bridge as we set sail. It’s a surprisingly leisurely passage along the 40 miles of the London waterway when everything else at the start of our mini-bre

The Gen Z Netflix star swears by sleep for healthy-looking skin, but is there any science behind getting a good night’s sleep? Alisha Boe says sleep is her beauty non-negotiable (Suzan Moore/PA) From pricey peptides to LED masks and expensive facials, there’s no shortage of things promising to give us better skin. But 13 Reasons Why actress Alisha Boe’s favourite beauty trick is a lot simpler and more affordable: getting a good night’s sleep. “My favourite beauty hack is slee

Families are invited to make the most of the school summer holidays at Mermaid Quay, as the waterfront destination launches six weeks of free, nature-inspired family activities designed to entertain, inspire and spark children's curiosity about the world around them. Mermaid Quay Cardiff Bay Running every Thursday from 23 July to 27 August, Tacoma Square will be transformed into an interactive outdoor adventure, where families can enjoy storytelling, creative crafts and hands

Cast in bronze, the Town Relief Map features famous faces from Caerphilly’s past and present. The Town Relief map of Amy Dowden's Home town of Caerphilly Strictly Star Amy Dowden visited her hometown of Caerphilly on Saturday 11 July, to unveil a statue that includes a miniature figure representing her. The Caerphilly born performer joined artist Sebastien Boyesen to unveil the completed Town Relief Map project to the public. Sebastien, who is famed as the artist behind Abert

Cardiff is set to welcome the 2nd Annual Hip Hop Food Festival on Sunday 26th July at Lo Lounge, Cardiff Bay, bringing together Hip Hop culture, street food, live performances, DJs, breaking, graffiti and independent traders for a unique family-friendly event. Hip Hop Food Festival & DJ Jaffa Organised by SC Collectif in collaboration with Lo Lounge, the Hip Hop Food Festival is Wales' only dedicated festival celebrating Hip Hop culture through music, food, art and community.

Actor Emma Corrin also showcased avant-garde fashion on the front row of Haute Couture Week in Paris. Emma Corrin wore a futuristic feathered jacket to the Schiaparelli show (Emma Da Silva/AP) Schiaparelli displayed a futuristic vision at the opening of Haute Couture Week in Paris, with creative director Daniel Roseberry introducing sculptural silicone into couture. Celebrities sitting front row included singer Bad Bunny, and actors Emma Corrin and Michelle Yeoh. From the fas

This rich, succulent, slow-cooked sauce is delicious served with tagliatelle ribbons. Isabella Barbato’s tagliatelle with her mum’s tomato sauce (Isabella Barbato/PA) Isabella Barbato’s tagliatelle with her mum’s tomato sauce (Isabella Barbato/PA) “Hand-cut tagliatelle made with semola and whole eggs, served with the slow-cooked tomato sauce that is the beating heart of this book,” says food writer Isabella Barbato. “I could not have started this book with anything else. This

The electrolyte products industry has ballooned into a massive market. Here’s what some GPs think about electrolyte replacement products (Alamy/PA) As heatwaves become more regular in the UK, so do warnings about dehydration. Alongside the familiar advice to drink plenty of water, there’s another message that’s become increasingly hard to ignore: replenish your electrolytes. Supermarket shelves and social media are buzzing with electrolyte replacement products promoted as “mu

Stylists break down the trendiest accessories that can give your summer wardrobe a lift. Silk scarves are set to be big this summer (Alamy/PA) With the sun shining and temperatures sizzling, the urge to buy entirely new seasonal clothing can be tempting, but there is a simpler solution. Accessories can be a practical and stylish method to elevate your summer outfits without the need for a complete wardrobe overhaul. Stylist Rebekah Roy, who’s worked with Harrods and Harvey Ni

Antenatal educator Megan Rossiter, author of Birth Power, tells Lisa Salmon how pregnant women can best take control of childbirth. How pregnant women can feel in control of their birth experience (Alamy/PA) You can’t control birth, but you can have an influence over what happens. That’s the promise of antenatal educator Megan Rossiter, who points out that while the “poor state of modern maternity care” is at the forefront of public conversation and things need to improve, th

A blue and white colour palette, natural textures and sun-kissed hues evoke a sense of the riviera, says Sam Wylie-Harris. From lemon motifs to coastal prints, here’s how to infuse the spirit of the Med into your home (Desenio/PA) There’s nothing like the prospect of an endless summer, soaring temperatures and azure-blue skies to put you in a sunny frame of mind. And with a Mediterranean climate on our doorstep, all the more reason to soak up indoor-outdoor living. Think Moro

These are our top picks ahead of the school summer holidays. Parent Unplugged is a parenting podcast hosted by certified parenting coach Charis Halsall. (Charis Halsall/PA) From kids’ online safety and digital needs to father-daughter bonds, this week’s podcasts cover a range of parenting topics. 1. Parent Unplugged Streaming platform: All streaming platforms and YouTube Genre: Parenting (Parent Unplugged/PA) Parent Unplugged is a parenting podcast hosted by certified parenti