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Britain's best pirate experiences: events and smuggler pubs to visit

Explore Britain’s bloodthirsty pirating past, from hunting for treasure trails along the coastline to following in the footsteps of the notorious Blackbeard. Shiver me timbers, here's our guide to five of the best pirate experiences in the UK.

Carys Matthews

Shiver me timbers, here's our guide to five of the best pirate experiences from festivals and events to pirate pubs in the UK.

Britain's best pirate festivals, events and walks, treasure trails, yorkshire coast.

The Yorkshire coastline lies less than 300 miles from the shores of the Netherlands, so it’s perhaps no surprise that the turbulent waters of the North Sea provided a useful shipping lane for trade in the 17th and 18th centuries. A fact exploited by the notorious pirate George ‘Snooker’ Fagg, captain of the ship Kent , who dominated the seas around Yorkshire during the 1770s. He and his crew pillaged large ships at gunpoint on their way into Scarborough and stashed their haul all along that part of the coast.

Snooker’s booty may have long gone but there’s still plenty of gems to uncover by taking one of the self-guided treasure trails that lead you along Scarborough Harbour or through Robin Hood’s Bay. www.treasuretrails.co.uk

If you’d like to learn more about Yorkshire’s pirate history, pay a visit to the excellent Yorkshire Museum. www.yorkshiremuseum.org.uk

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Blackbeard's Trail, Brixham, Devon

Hunt for Blackbeard’s secret scroll by following the free Blackbeard trail in Brixham. Over the course of the 2.5-mile circular walk, you’ll discover Brixham’s hidden historic sites and enjoy spectacular views. There are eight signs to look out for during your walk – keep your eyes open for the pirate symbols – and you need to spot them all in order to crack the code, which spells out the location of the notorious pirate’s secret scroll.

Bristol Pirate Walk, Bristol

If you don’t know where to look when you’re walking through Bristol’s bustling St Nicholas Market and harbour, chances are, you’ll miss the evidence of the city’s long history of piracy. Some of the best places to find clues and relics of the rogues and rapscallions who set sail from this West Country city during the 17th and 18th centuries are the watering holes dotted around the docks. But if you prefer something with a little more guidance and a little less grog, you should book yourself and your motley crew on to the Bristol Pirate Walk.

Led by the jovial Pete Martin – otherwise known as ‘Pirate Pete’ – Bristol Pirate Walks are a lighthearted yet informative way to step back in time and learn more about Bristol’s seafaring history. You’ll also have the option of donning some pirate fancy dress along the way. And dressed up or not, there’s a lot to learn.

Bristol may have only been the size of four football pitches back in the 1700s, but it was thought to be the birth place of one of piracy’s biggest names. Blackbeard, or as he was officially named Edward Teach, was born in 1680. Renowned for his formidable appearance and thick black beard, Teach turned to piracy after serving on a British warship in the War of the Spanish Succession.

Pirate Pete is a less threatening presence but no less of a character. He’ll take you to see original sailor refuges, merchant houses and the vast network of caves once used by smugglers. He’ll also introduce you to some of the pirates’ favourite harbourside pubs, including the Hole in the Wall, which – with its tiny cubbyhole window for spotting approaching press gangs – is said to be the inspiration for the Spyglass Tavern in Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic Treasure Island . www.piratewalks.co.uk

Pirate's Quest, Newquay, Cornwall

Cornwall’s rugged coastline has a long history with smugglers, wreckers and seafaring pirates, dating back to the early 17th century. Incoming ships, often carrying goods from overseas to major ports such as Falmouth and Penzance, provided a lucrative haul for local wreckers. Ships would be plundered – often brutally – and then the goods stashed in hidden coves along the bay. If you fancy a taste of this swashbuckling pirate life, Pirate’s Quest in Newquay is an atmospheric and exciting live-action experience with actors and dramatic special effects creating a sense of adventure as you learn about Cornwall’s pirating legends and history. During the one-hour voyage you and your crew-mates will escape a shipwreck, explore mystical caves, wander murky streets and pay a visit to an 18th-century tavern. But be warned: one intense scare is guaranteed… Suitable for children and adults of all ages. www.piratesquest.co.uk

Britain's best pirate pubs

If the walls of these atmospheric pubs could talk, they’d tell hair-raising tales of smugglers, pirates and wreckers plotting raids, hiding loot and running rings around the excise men, says Emma Field.

Jamaica Inn, Bodmin Moor, Cornwall

Cornwall’s notorious wreckers stored contraband in the isolated Jamaica Inn. The attached Museum of Smuggling has a fine collection of smuggling artefacts, and there’s a memorial room to Daphne du Maurier, who turned the smuggling tales she heard here into her famous novel. www.jamaicainn.co.uk

The Stein Inn, Isle of Skye, Inner Hebrides

By all accounts, smuggling was a way of life for most Scots, and it’s hard to find an old Scottish pub without smuggling history! The Stein is the oldest inn on Skye and it’s easy to imagine bootleggers enjoying its remote location and roaring fire. www.stein-inn.co.uk

The Ship Inn, Saltburn, North Yorkshire

It’s easy to see why The Ship was a smugglers’ haunt. It stands in the shadow of a seacliff on the edge of Old Saltburn, and the pub’s landlord from 1780 was John Andrew, also known as the ‘King of Smugglers’. Saltburn Road, TS12 1HF

The Mermaid Inn, Rye, East Sussex

In the 1730s and 1740s, The Mermaid Inn was a stronghold of the Hawkshurst Gang, one of Britain’s most fearsome smuggling rings. Members were often seen here, drinking with loaded pistols on the table, and one eye on the inn’s secret passageways. www.mermaidinn.com

The Captain’s Wife, Penarth, South Wales

This pub’s smuggling connections date from when it was known as Sully House and owned by a sea captain. It was a hub for smuggling operations, and a secret tunnel connected it to the sea. Apparently, the captain’s wife died here and her spirit still haunts the building. The ghost of a small boy has also been spotted. www.vintageinn.co.uk

The Pilchard Inn,Burgh Island, Devon

Burgh Island’s tidal causeway meant that The Pilchard was something of a smugglers’ resort, protected by a natural barrier for half of the day. The inn harbours plenty of smuggling tales; Tom Crocker, an Elizabethan smuggler, was even shot by a revenue officer here. www.burghisland.com

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The best UK websites for travel deals & holiday discounts

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From discounts on luxury hotels to searching for cheap flights, these are the sites you need to bookmark when you feel ready to travel again.

Sometimes simply Googling "cheap holidays" isn't enough. For the best travel offers you might need to dig a little deeper, whether that's subscribing to a mailing list or scrolling through to find the least expensive flights. Here's our pick of the websites that help you get more for your money.

For high-end hotels: Secret Escapes

Offering up to 65% off luxury stays, Secret Escapes is a free members' website, with fantastic deals on hotel stays as well as trips that also include travel. Deals are all available for a limited time only, and it's particularly strong on short escapes, with categories including ' Stars of the week ' and ' Within two hours of London '. There are longer-term and longer-haul options available too.

For last-minute deals: lastminute.com

If you don't want to spend hours trawling through deals or you need a last-minute getaway, lastminute.com has everything from beach holidays to spa breaks, as well as tickets for days out and experiences. Don’t scroll past ‘Today’s top travel deals', which change daily and include getaways with the biggest savings and lowest prices. Destinations range from continental Europe to luxurious long-haul escapes, like Mauritius and Barbados. The website also has a separate search tab specifically for Eurostar deals.

For city break deals: Jet2holidays

Sometimes a short city break away is enough to recharge your batteries and soak up some (different) scenery. In that case, Jet2holidays is top choice. Whether it's Rome or Athens, Palma or Krakow, you can narrow your search down to find the perfect escape for a very decent price. Keep an eye on the daily deals too.

For bargain holiday inspiration: Holiday Pirates

Head to Holiday Pirates if you want to bag a deal and are flexible on your destination and dates. You can filter the deals by categories like flights, holidays, hotels and cruises. The deals range from short UK escapes to city breaks as well as long-haul beach holidays and safaris.

READ MORE: 30 secrets travel agents know that you don't

For excellent tour deals: viator.com

You'll need to know what you're looking for on Viator.com – this website has over 60,000 different tours across the world. It’s particularly good for day trips as well as skip-the-queue entry and tour packages for top museums and attractions, especially at some of the most crowded sights like the Eiffel Tower or the Vatican. Currently, if you download the app, you'll get 10% off your first booking (restrictions apply).

For a surprise holiday on a budget: srprs.me

If you don’t care where you go then srprs.me is for you. Choose between a city break or backpacking adventure, select the number of travellers and length of the trip, as well as your maximum budget ( trips start from £135pp for three nights ), and the rest is up to your 'personal planner'. Your flights, accommodation and activities will be organised by the team at srprs.me and you'll find out your destination when you get to the airport. All you'll need to do is to keep an open mind.

Top tip: try email subscriptions

Subscribe to Jack’s Flight Club and Scott’s Cheap Flights to get regular updates on the best flight deals. These cheap flights are either mistake fares airlines have put up accidentally or sales that aren’t advertised, so you’ll have to be quick to book before the fares change or disappear. Round-trip deals in the past have included Manchester to the Canary Islands for as little as £31 and Glasgow to Bangkok for £293.

READ MORE: How to book cheap flights

For low deposits and spreading the cost: On the Beach

If you want to secure a holiday and keep chipping away at the cost, look no further than On the Beach . The award-winning online travel agency allows you to find a complete holiday package or just hotels, anywhere in the world. If you see a trip that takes your fancy, you can pop it in your Scrapbook and track the price of your desired destination. 

For weekly deals: Travelzoo

This free subscribers' site features travel deals and days out around the world, all of which have been checked to confirm they're live and offer the value they claim. Once you've registered you can search for deals by destination or by category: all-inclusive, city breaks, last-minute etc. Sign up to the weekly Top 20 email to get deals to your inbox.

For travel comparison: Travel Supermarket

From flights and hotels to holidays and travel insurance, Travel Supermarket is a handy resource for browsing and comparing different travel deals. It offers an easy-to-use search tool for seasonal escapes, the latest offers and allows you to compare flights from over 1,200 providers. What really sets this website apart from competitors is the ‘ Travel extras ’ tab where you can search the best deals on airport parking, airport transfers, rail travel and even holiday villas.

For travel inspiration: Skyscanner

This travel search engine lets you seek out flights, whether or not you have a destination in mind. Either type in your exact destination and dates, or simply search for 'Everywhere' and by 'Cheapest month' if you're looking for inspiration. Hotels and car rental are also available. Many of the deals are offered by third-party travel agents, so it's worth checking their user reviews before booking, and you might also find that some of the prices are no longer available once you click through.

READ MORE: 7 secrets you need to know before booking with a travel agent

For luxury escapes: Voyage Privé

Ultra-luxe holidays are the focus of this site , which features a selection of flash sales each day for its members. Subscription is free and you can search by destination or by category, such as tours and cruises or mountains and lakes. You can also create a wish list, so you're alerted as soon as your preferred destination and dates are available on the site.

For luxury adults-only breaks: Sovereign

Child-free and fabulous, the hotels Sovereign offers ooze luxury. Think swim-up rooms, boutique hotels and hot tubs as standard. Free cancellations and amendments ease the stress of ever-changing plans and the virtual personal travel planners are only too happy to match your every request. Subscribe to the newsletter for special offers.

For something a little different: Groupon

Not exclusively travel-focused, Groupon has a 'Getaways' section for subscribers where it posts time-limited deals ranging from UK stays to European city breaks and beyond. There are also more unusual options such as 'Mystery Getaways', where you only find out your destination after booking, and the 'Quirky accommodation' category for glamping, one-off hotels and experiences.

For cut-price flights: Cheapflights.co.uk

Cheapflights.co.uk lets you search for – that's right – cheap flights, plus hotels, car rental and holidays. You have to know exactly what you're looking for in terms of dates and destination, and results can be sorted by quickest, cheapest and 'smartest' (a combination of price and journey time). Like with Skyscanner, many are available through online agents so check them out ahead of booking.

READ MORE: The top 5 online travel agents for the best deals

For budget-friendly breaks: Wowcher

Similar to Groupon, Wowcher covers all manner of things, with a travel section encompassing various types of trip from seaside holidays to safaris. Offers are available for a limited time, with various pricing options depending on travel dates, departure airport, any extras, etc. For some you only pay a deposit and pay the travel company directly at a later date.

For cheap hotels: Booking.com

Booking.com absolutely rules the hotel booking world, with thousands of properties across the globe instantly bookable through its website. The site has a comprehensive filter facility, so you can search by hotel or by city, and often you'll get a 'book now pay later' deal, where you'll pay the hotel on arrival. Sometimes, hotels offer free cancellation up to a week before too, giving you even more flexibility.

For the best cruise deals: vivavoyage.co.uk

From all-inclusives to last-minute deals, vivavoyage.co.uk has it all – as long as it’s a cruise. You can search for mini cruises or filter by region or country, and even specific cruise lines. There are fly and cruise packages too, plus brilliant price reductions every day.

Lead image:  Dmitry Rukhlenko/Shutterstock

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• Top 5 Swashbuckling Pirate Adventures in the UK

By Emily May

Shiver me timbers, next Wednesday (19 September) is Talk Like a Pirate Day! Whether you’re a filthy landlubber or an old sea dog, there “argh!” plenty of events to help you to get into character before the big buccaneer day. So grab your eye patch and cutlass and head to one of the best swashbuckling activities around the UK.

Pirates on the Dock, Liverpool

What better place to see a sea-faring adventure than by the murky waters of Liverpool’s Albert Dock? Head to Pirates on The Dock, a two-day festival of live action and family entertainment, from ship battles to stunts, sword fights to local folklore and sea shanty singing. There’s even a Pirate and Mermaid parade, which budding buccaneers can join in with on the day. And the great news is it is all for free, so you don’t need to go looting some booty to afford to go!

Image Credit: Royal Albert Dock Liverpool via Twitter

Pirates on the Dock runs from 10am - 6pm on 15 & 16 September at Albert Dock, Liverpool

Pirate’s Quest, Newquay

Cornwall’s famous for its treacherous tales of smugglers and sea criminals, so Newquay is the perfect place to head to explore Britain’s pirate riddled past . Whilst you’re there, head to Pirate’s Quest, an immersive walk-through experience that guides you through mystical caves and antiquated streets of 18th Century Cornwall, and teaches you about the history of piracy. The big question is, will you opt to follow the safe route, or will you risk getting the black spot by going through the exhibition’s “scare section” - a venerable Davy Jones’ locker with smoke effects, atmospheric lighting, loud noises, and live performers.

Image Credit: Pirate's Quest via Twitter

Pirate’s Quest is located at 22 St. Michaels Road, Newquay, Cornwall, TR7 1RA

Pirate Walks, Bristol

Bristol has a rich maritime history, and is even the birthplace of the infamous Blackbeard! You can learn more about the hometown of the legendary buccaneer by taking part in a Pirate Walk around the city. Led by Pirate Pete you will visit many timber shivering sites including Long John Silver’s treasure chest in the smugglers caves, Blackbeard’s lair in the medieval port, and the Spy Glass Inn from Treasure Island.

Image Credit: Pirate Walks via Facebook

Pirate Walks run on Saturdays at 2:00 pm throughout the year and start from Black Beetle Status, Anchor Square, BS1 5LL. Always telephone for availability.

The Pirates’ Graveyard, Dorset

Dorset is the setting for Moonfleet, John Meade Falkner’s classic tale of smugglers, so is another key county to visit if you’re a pirate aficionado. Head to Church Ope Cove on the Isle of Portland, which is not only a stunning beach but also situated near a spine chilling graveyard. Whilst it’s official name is St. Andrew’s graveyard as it is alongside the romantic ruin of St. Andrew’s Church, the site has come to be thought of as a Pirates’ Graveyard due to many of the headstones having skulls and cross bones carved upon them. Whether it’s true or not, you can still let your imagination run wild, and think of all the possible adventures that led to these potential scallywags ending up in Davy Jones’ locker.

Image Credit: Trip Advisor

The Pirates’ Graveyard is located at St Andrew’s Church nr. Church Ope Cove, Easton, Portland, Dorset

Bowood House Adventure Playground, Wiltshire

Get your small smugglers started early with the life-sized Pirate Galleon located at the heart of Bowood House’s adventure playground. Suitable for seadogs up to 12-years-old, there’s rigging to climb, portholes to peek through, and a watch tower from which you can survey your surroundings and keep an eye out for the dreaded Kraken (also known as your parent telling you it’s time to go home!)

Image Credit: Bowood House and Gardens via Twitter

Bowood House Adventure Playground is open daily until 4th November 2018, and is located at Old Road, Derry Hill, Calne, SN11 0LZ

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Pirates and prehistory on Devon's southeast coast

Modern-day cheesemakers, distillers and vintners may call Devon’s southeast coast home but the story of these shores stretches back millennia. Ramble along wildlife-rich bays to discover tales of smugglers, Roman ruins and well-preserved fossils.

From a remote, sandstone ledge drops a bewildered man in a wetsuit. It’s taken an eternity for him to jump, and he plummets through the air with an expression somewhere between elation and terror. The rocks zooming past behind him are tens of millions of years old; the bay he’s arrowing into has witnessed visitors ranging from plesiosaurs to pirates. And, with the sun illuminating the red cliffs and ivied, coastal woodland, there comes an almighty splash as the October-cold sea rushes up to swallow him. For the man — who happens to be me — it’s an unutterable thrill.

Tom Devey, the guide who’s just patiently coaxed me into stepping off a 26ft precipice, gives a thumbs-up from the shore and gestures to a cove nearby. We’ve spent the past hour clambering over — and leaping from — the boulders and sea stacks of Devon’s southeastern coastline and it’s now time for a break.

“I’ve got hot chocolate,” he grins, patting his pack and leading us to a tiny beach walled off by giant shelves of rock. As he pours from the thermos, he points out the storage holes and camping spots favoured by generations of smugglers who used this shoreline to spirit illicit shipments of liquor and tobacco into the West Country. “On the subject,” he says, producing a hip flask. “Tot of rum in that?”

On Devon’s southeast coast, the history is spread as thickly as clotted cream. I’m here to discover more about the area’s past and present — feet first, in the case of this coasteering trip near the hill-hidden hamlet of Maidencombe — on a journey from the ancient city of Exeter to the Jurassic Coast, via the pub-dotted ports of the Exe Estuary.

Before then, Tom — who works for Rock Solid Coasteering — leads me through some further jumps. We swim under natural arches and climb rocks, then plunge, drink-warmed, back into the sea. At one point, a grey seal appears, bobbing in the swell just feet away. Tom tells a tale of three bootleggers blockaded into a sea cave by the authorities. “They were trying to drown them,” he explains, as we look east along a series of hefty headlands. “But when they unsealed it three days later, there was no sign of the bodies. People think the men found a way into the wider cave system and escaped inland.”

The busy quays and taverns of Exeter, 15 miles to the north at the head of the estuary, would’ve been the obvious place to flee. Devon’s county town was no stranger to smugglers and seafarers during the 17th and 18th centuries, and they were far from the first to flock there. Long before, its plum location had attracted Roman and Norman invaders, and, in between their arrival, Saxon settlers.

“Some say that when the Normans turned up, the medieval bishop of Exeter stood on the town gate, bared his bottom and farted at William the Conqueror!” says David Radstone, one of the city’s Red Coat guides , with palpable relish. I meet him on Cathedral Green for a free city tour, in the shadow of the one of the mightiest religious buildings in England. The streets around us are filled with a mixture of timbered, medieval buildings and harsher, post-war architecture. Gargoyles and grotesques glower down from the cathedral guttering.  

Home to a large university, the city is fascinating. In the centuries since the Normans arrived, David explains, Exeter has taken on various guises, from prosperous merchant city and hub of the UK cloth trade (in 1700, 80% of Exeter’s residents were employed in the wool industry) to ill-fated Luftwaffe target during the Baedeker Raids, during which 1,500 homes were destroyed in a single night in May 1942.    

As we wander the centre, David ties together the strands of the city’s past. We run our hands over the original Roman city walls, stand under imposing Georgian townhouses and stand agog in front of before-and-after photos of the bomb-damaged city. In the distance, green hills bulge into view. “It’s an easy city to live in — 70,000 locals; 25,000 students. You can see the countryside from almost anywhere,” says David.

We end up at the handsome quay, once abuzz with ships and hundredweights of yarn. Today, its old tunnels and warehouses house pizza restaurants, vintage stores and bike-hire outlets. “It has a life again,” enthuses the server at The Coffee Cellar , preparing a latte. He points to a building across the water. “That was once the tram substation. It’s now an indoor climbing centre.”        

Away from the quay, among Exeter’s respectable cluster of notable attractions, the Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery is fantastic. I’m particularly wowed by a hoard of 22,888 Roman coins found by a local metal detectorist, and the 100,000-year-old hippo fossils pulled from the River Exe. The soaring cathedral, meanwhile — largely unscathed by German air raids — very much lives up to the hype. At 8.15am, I walk self-consciously into morning prayers to find the dean leading a congregation of just two. High above the nave, the world’s largest stretch of uninterrupted gothic vaulting fans out like a giant forest canopy. I find the psalms impenetrable, but am transported, nonetheless.

If there’s a sight that sums up the city’s adaptability, however, it’s The House That Moved. The three-storey medieval building, which looks wonky enough to topple over at any moment, was jacked onto wheels in the 1960s and transported 230ft down the road to its current location on West Street, near the quay, to avoid demolition. That’s southeast Devon; spend time here and you eventually get drawn towards the coast.

Sustainable spirits

“People say it makes sense to make rum in Devon,” says Gemma Wakeham, part of Two Drifters ’ wife-and-husband team. The world’s first carbon-negative rum distillery, just outside Exeter is stocked with stills and barrels that recall the coast’s spirit smuggling past. Strung from the rafters, a flag bearing the St Petroc’s Cross, the county emblem: a black-and-white cross on a green background. That’s more or less where tradition ends.

“The whole distillery is electric and runs on renewable energy,” says Gemma, explaining how husband Russ’s background in chemistry has driven their green ethos. They use the same carbon capture technology recently adopted by Coldplay for its pioneering net-zero tour; Chris Martin, incidentally, is a former Exeter Cathedral choirboy and were recently approached to supply cocktails for the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference. The rums themselves taste great, full of woozy zest and warmth. “When we launched in 2019, we were producing 80 bottles a week,” says Gemma. “That’s now 2,500.”

The distillery aims to offset every single element of its production, from the growing of spices to the shipping of sugar cane. This is in my mind as I head along the Exe Estuary to Topsham, once the second-busiest port in England. I arrive to the sound of baying gulls and mast-slapping halyards, with the river shimmering out towards the sea, surrounded by saltmarshes.

“When William of Orange arrived in England in 1688 to take the throne, this is where his fleet arrived,” says Ed Williams-Hawkes, a powerboat navigator — complete with eye patch — who moved to Topsham in the 1960s. He points towards the quay. “You can imagine the scene; Turkish cannons being pulled by shire horses; platoons of Swiss guards; Norsemen in white bearskins. Incredible to think about.”

Ed’s son Tom is head chef at The Salutation Inn , a few minutes’ walk away, past Dutch-gabled townhouses. Like the rest of the town, the inn creaks history. Its 300-year-old wooden door — broad enough for Victorian coaches to pass through — is still marked with apotropaic carvings (to ward off evil spirits). These apparently didn’t stop some lively activities taking place here in centuries gone by, from attempting to get a horse to jump over a table in the dining room to public wrestling matches.

It’s a lot less rowdy on my visit, largely because the inn is now geared towards one of the region’s more enduring joys: good food and drink. The restaurant prides itself on serving local produce such as crab, partridge and West Country cheeses; an in-house fish deli, opened during lockdown to support local fishermen, is still going strong.

Tom was trained by another Exeter local, Michael Caines, who’s perhaps done more than anyone to draw attention to Devon’s culinary scene. One of the few Black chefs in the UK to have earned a Michelin star, he opened five-star Lympstone Manor in 2017. The Grade II-listed country house gazes out across the Exe Estuary a few miles south of Topsham and is home to the kind of luxury hotel-restaurant where discreet tags tell you how expensive the artworks are, and where, on arrival, you sense time itself begin to slow down, brush its lapels, and loosen its belt a notch.

The view from the manor’s 28-acre grounds is a spectacular one: a sun-dappled horizon of rumpled green, shot through by the silvery swathe of the estuary. In the foreground sits the hotel’s own vineyard, a nursery for English sparkling wines. Its neat rows of vines are visible from the window when I’m led through for afternoon tea. It’s the works: a choice of 10 different teas and infusions, a small army of staff in ironed aprons, and a three-level cake stand stacked with pastries, scones (don’t dare go jam first — this is Devon) and finger sandwiches. The octogenarian ladies at the next table are jubilant when theirs is placed in front of them. “I can’t see you now!” says one to the other.

But no matter how delicately baked the fig tarts are, it’s hard to top the grounds. On a crisp autumn day, the sight of the estuary is a hypnotic one: a silky expanse of land and water under a colossal, South Coast sky. The hotel’s rooms and suites are all named after birds, and for good reason. The marshes and mudflats that stretch between Exeter and the English Channel are a site of international importance for wading birds, who flock here in their tens of thousands to feed on invertebrates.

At nearby RSPB Bowling Green Marsh , I find a seat in the hide overlooking the reed beds. I’m too early for the throng of winter visitors — geese from Siberia, godwits from Scandinavia — but the scene is still a lively one. Pretty teals fuss on the banks, and shovelers dabble past waggling their platypus beaks. Elsewhere in the hide, I can hear a hushed conversation about moorhens. It’s a peaceable spot, and mighty easy to linger in, but looking up I see heavy clouds, rolling in, as relentlessly as waves, from the direction of the open sea.

Folk songs & fossils

“The captain’s in his cabin, boys, drinking rum and brandy — away, haul away, we’ll haul away, Joe!”

It’s Thursday folk night at Exmouth’s The Bicton Inn , mere streets from the sea. Forty voices ring around the pub, surging in unison and fogging the dark windows. Naval ensigns are strung around the walls and tankards are being downed. “This song is about how the news of Nelson’s victory travelled across the land,” announces a well-oiled greybeard, as another local gets his accordion ready. “Although it’s said there are a few north of Tiverton who still haven’t heard.”

The inn was recently named the ‘best community pub in East Devon’ by the Campaign for Real Ale, and a blackboard lists upcoming backgammon sessions, vinyl nights and knitting clubs. Tonight, though, as the rain clouds mass overhead, star billing goes to southeast Devon’s maritime links. The local sailors of the Trafalgar era wouldn’t have witnessed the kitesurfers that busy the headland these days, but the sea air — and the lingering hint of journeys to faraway lands — would’ve been as restorative then as they are now.

“Well, heave her up and away we’ll go,” roars the chorus of voices, “She’s a fast clipper ship and a bully good crew.”    

Exmouth is also the official starting point of the 96-mile Jurassic Coast. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is where local history does a few somersaults, kisses goodbye to the human race and speeds away into the mists of time. Although the coast’s name is something of a misnomer; the rocks here actually yawn back as far as the Triassic era; some of those near Exmouth are 250 million years old.    

The resulting scenery — all Big Dipper ridges and wild, wave-bashed headlands — makes it a glorious place to hike, dawdle or just simply gawp. The geological timescales are brain-spinning: the red cliffs here were originally part of a vast desert, which was later flooded by a tropical sea. Around 140 million years ago, the waters receded, freeing up more space for roaming dinosaurs, before sea levels rose again 100 million years ago. It’s something to mull over during your pre-breakfast constitutional along the prom.      

Fair weather has returned by the time I reach Sidmouth, a little further along the coast, where the resort’s aspic-preserved seaside charms remain strong. Well-heeled holidaymakers — not least a young Queen Victoria — have been coming here for centuries, and elegant, flower-filled hotels still gaze out from the seafront. At sunset, I watch the sandstone bluffs to the west of town glow an incongruous Uluru-orange.

Outwardly, at least, this is still the Devon of bandstands and bathing machines. “It’s in a time warp, but in a good way,” laughs sharply dressed town clerk Chris Holland, a man who’s been part of the local brass band since the age of 11. With the resort is spread out beneath us, he tells me how the pandemic has meant more and more people have been discovering towns along the coast. “It’s a really good thing,” he says. “Somewhere like Sidmouth stays with you.” Chris looks down at the esplanade. “I’ve lived here all my life, and I still need to see the sea each day,” he says. “Just to check it’s still there.”

It’s true that the presence of the sea becomes addictive. On the way home, I decide to stop off in Lyme Regis. It’s a (prehistoric) stone’s throw from Devon itself, but on the basis that geology doesn’t recognise county borders, it feels an apt place to visit. Here, as much as anywhere, the region’s multilayered history is on full show. I walk past a long line of pastel-painted beach huts to reach Lyme Regis Museum , which tells tales of smugglers’ ships, naval brigs and British palaeontologist Mary Anning, portrayed by Kate Winslet in the 2020 film Ammonite .

The museum sits in what was once Anning’s home, and I follow the advice of a staff member to wander out to Black Ven, a nearby undercliff. “Erosion means there are always new fossils being exposed,” she explains. It’s early evening and there are seven others searching the rocks, as a stiff breeze comes in off the sea. After 20 minutes, with the light getting dimmer, I turn a stone and find a partial ammonite imprint the size of my thumb. It’s not the prettiest find — or the most intact — but it represents about 70 million years’ worth of history, and that’ll do me.

Essentials  

Getting there & around London Waterloo and Paddington, Birmingham New Street, Cardiff Central, Penzance and Newcastle all have direct trains to Exeter. The Avocet Line is a useful local rail service from Exeter to Exmouth, with stops including Topsham and Lympstone.

When to go With its mild maritime climate, Devon is a year-round destination although four seasons can be experienced in one day pretty much any time of year. The Sidmouth Folk Festival is held every summer (29 July to 5 August, 2022). Winter is good for birdwatching on the Exe Estuary.

Where to stay The Turks Head , Exeter, from £85, room only.  

Hotel Riviera , Sidmouth, from £120, B & B.  

More info Slow Travel, East Devon & The Jurassic Coast (Bradt Travel Guides), £14.99.

Visit Devon .  

How to do it Lympstone Manor offers one night in a double room including breakfast, and an a la carte dinner at its Michael Caines-helmed Michelin-starred restaurant and a complimentary gin tray for £650. Afternoon tea costs an additional £49.50 per person.  

Published in the Jan/Feb 2022 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK)

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The History Hit Miscellany of Facts, Figures and Fascinating Finds

7 Places to Discover Pirate History in the UK

Glimpse into the strange and gruesome world of piracy and trace the steps of famous historical pirates at these 7 spots around britain..

Tristan Parker

24 nov 2021.

Throughout the Golden Age of Piracy (from approximately 1650 until 1720) and before this, the UK played an important part in the history of piracy. As well as spawning many of the most famous pirates still talked about today, parts of Britain were hotbeds of pirate activity, acting as key smuggling locations and strategic storage points.

Pirate attacks also took place in British waters and around its coastline, which saw the looting and commandeering of ships as well as gruelling, drawn-out naval battles.

Here are 7 destinations around the UK where you can get a sense of pirating history.

1. Rye, England

This picturesque town in East Sussex used to be one of the most active smuggling destinations in England. Rye was made a Cinque Port in the 12th century, meaning it was seen as important for trade and defence in England, and so was given special privileges, such as tax exemptions. Its geographical location and status as a maritime trade hub made it extremely appealing to smugglers (such as the notorious Hawkhurst Gang, who used to drink and plot at Rye’s Mermaid Inn), and therefore also to pirates.

Rye is just one example of the often blurry line that existed between smuggling and pirating. Where one stopped and the other began was sometimes a subjective judgement made by those keeping official records, which could be scarce. Similarly, the town also had links with privateering, which involved ship captains being commissioned by governments to attack and loot ships from other countries. Some saw this as little more than state-endorsed piracy.

2. Newport, Wales

Several famous historical pirates were Welsh, including arguably the most ‘successful’ pirate of all time, Bartholomew Roberts, known as Black Bart. Another well-known figure is Henry Morgan (Harri Morgan in Welsh), who was born near Newport. Technically a privateer who later became Governor of Jamaica, he eventually had a rum named after him: Captain Morgan.

Newport was a major hub in Wales for smuggling and pirate activity, largely due to its busy docks and location above the Bristol Channel. The channel was also a haven for smuggling during the 16th to 18th centuries, thanks to the covert hideaways it provided and its proximity to Cornwall, Bristol and South Wales. Tobacco’s increasing popularity in these times brought with it an increase in smuggling and Newport was soon flooded with illegally transported tobacco, not all of which went unnoticed. Trades records detail a seizure of almost 10,000lbs of tobacco and 40 gallons of brandy in Goldcliff, a village in Newport, in 1784.

3. Bristol, England

It’s thought that Blackbeard, history’s most infamous pirate, was born in Bristol, southwest England, around 1680. Fortuitously for Blackbeard (real name Edward Teach or Thatch), though not so much for the many ship crews he and his gang terrorised, he was born during the Golden Age of Piracy, which no doubt made his rise to notoriety on the high seas that much smoother.

But it wasn’t just Blackbeard that forged Bristol’s rich historical connection with pirating. At the beginning of the 18th century, Bristol became known as England’s ‘second city’ largely due to its sizeable and busy harbour. Trade around the harbour was thriving at this time, and a significant part of this was due to the city’s major role in the transatlantic slave trade, which proved extremely profitable for many traders. With such a thriving maritime economy, Bristol soon became a haven for pirates.

4. The Cornish Coast, England

The jagged coastline of Cornwall – and wider southwest England – proved an immensely useful geographical feature for pirates, as the numerous caves and pockets in hidden-away crags gave them places to stash stolen and smuggled goods, and even ships. Not everyone managed to stay under the radar, however, and there are numerous records of arrests and hangings for those who committed piracy.

When talking about piracy in Cornwall, it’s also important to mention the Barbary pirates, groups from North Africa who would raid European coastal areas and kidnap people to be sold and used as slaves in Algiers, Tunis, Tripoli and Moroccan towns. Due to its relatively isolated location, England’s southwest coast was a key area of attack for Barbary pirates, and thousands of people were taken from the region, particularly from Cornwall.

5. Wapping, England

For around 400 years, the East London area of Wapping housed a site grimly known as Execution Dock, built to hang those who were found guilty of piracy by British Admiralty courts. The most famous pirate put to death at the dock was William Kidd, known as Captain Kidd, now a legendary name within pirating, although some argue that Kidd was more of a privateer. Either way, Kidd was found guilty of piracy and hanged at Execution Dock in 1701.

The dock’s exact location in Wapping is disputed. Some claim it was where the Swan Wharf building or Wapping Overground rail station now stand, while three pubs in the area (The Town of Ramsgate, The Captain Kidd and The Prospect of Whitby ) all claim to be on or extremely close to the original site. The final executions took place at the dock in 1830, when William Watts and George Davis became the final people to be hanged for piracy in England.

6. The Yorkshire Coast, England

In the 18th century, smuggling was rife across the Yorkshire coast, and wherever there were smugglers, pirates were sure to follow. For example, George Fagg was a prominent smuggler around Yorkshire (particularly Scarborough), during the 1770s. Some accounts refer to him as a local smuggling kingpin, while others label him a pirate (perhaps partly because his ship, The Kent , was known to be heavily armed with different types of guns).

There are also clear-cut accounts of pirating around the area. A family-run ship-building firm in Scarborough, Tinndalls, began arming their ships with guns after one of their vessels, Morning Star , was attacked and plundered by pirates in 1828, killing some of the crew in the process.

Pirating has also passed into the local folklore. One tale involved Robin Hood’s Bay, a small fishing village on the Yorkshire Coast that became a hotspot for smuggling thanks to its covert, winding alleys and buildings close to the water. The village was said to be named after Robin Hood, in gratitude for Robin fighting off pirates who tried to steal local fishing boats. Charming as the story is, there is no supporting evidence, though it does show that the area was familiar with the problems of pirating.

7. The North Channel, Northern Ireland/Scotland

Running between the east coast of Northern Ireland and the west coast of Scotland (and therefore connecting the Irish Sea and Atlantic Ocean), this strait was the setting for a vicious naval duel in 1778. The battle was instigated by John Paul Jones, a Scottish-born sea captain sometimes referred to as a hero, sometimes as a pirate. Jones attacked a British naval ship, HMS Drake , in the channel after a series of smaller attempted raids around nearby British coastal towns.

Jones had mapped out his attacking strategy in detail and apparently took HMS Drake in just one hour and 15 minutes. Though it can certainly be seen as pirating in one light, Jones was a captain in the US Navy at the time and the attack was viewed as an American victory in the American War of Independence between North America’s British colonies and Britain. He went on to attack and conquer further British ships in the Battle of Flamborough Head in 1779. Unsurprisingly, Jones was labelled a pirate throughout Britain, but lauded elsewhere by the US and its allies.

• Pirate Diaries
• Sustainability

The HolidayPirates Group operates across 10 countries in Europe and North America and is the preferred travel search platform for millions of enthusiasts, explorers, and holiday makers.

Headquartered in Berlin, the multi-award-winning platform’s editorial team find and share the best, often unique, travel deals from packages, flights, and hotels through to car hire, holiday homes, luxury stays and weekend breaks.

Our users stay up to date with great deals by setting custom alerts on our app, on WhatsApp, following us on social media, subscribing to our newsletter or simply visiting one of our market specific websites.

2011: Igor Simonow founds Urlaubspiraten, where he publishes travel deals online in Germany

2012: HolidayPirates launches in the UK and co-founder Sebastian Kaatz registers “HolidayPirates GmbH” in Berlin.

2013: PiratinViaggio launches in Italy as well as Urlaubspiraten in Austria. Facebook is chosen as the company’s marketing platform.

2014: E-commerce expert (and future CEO) David Armstrong assumes the new role of COO to internationalise and scale the business. VakantiePiraten launches in The Netherlands, WakacyjniPiraci in Poland, and VoyagesPirates sets sail in France.

2015: ViajerosPiratas launches in Spain and Ferienpiraten in Switzerland. The Group also begins to integrate the booking capabilities of preferred partners.

2016: David Armstrong becomes CEO of the Group and the co-founders, Igor and Sebastian, start stepping out of day-to-day operations.

2017: WhatsApp and Instagram launch in several markets and TravelPirates opens for the US-market.

2018/19: The Group's annual Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) approaches half a billion Euros each year.

2020: The Group adopts a hybrid work policy. Employees gain the flexibility to work from anywhere.

2021: The company replaces its tech stack to facilitate the vision, strategy and scalability of the business model.

2022: After weathering the pandemic storm without needing to raise funds or take loans, The HolidayPirates Group is back at the forefront of the industry, helping fulfill travel dreams all over the world.

2023: The company opens headquarters in Berlin - the central hub at the heart of the hybrid working model. The Group launches the first Virtual Tour Operation [VTO] program in the Italian market, followed quickly by the German and Dutch markets.

Our Captains

Carlo Speth - Head of Market, DACH

Location: Berlin

Expertise: Editorial content, social media strategy, SEO and developing new business sectors.

Career Highlights: Editor-in-Chief for HolidayPirates DACH presence for many years, leading to the role of Head of Market.

Academic background: Law, Germany.

Why travel? To seek out the culinary hot-spots all over the world.

David Armstrong – CEO & Co-Founder HolidayPirates Group

Location: Berlin/Munich

Expertise: Scaling e-commerce/online companies in travel, turnaround and change management

Career Highlights: Timesoft (co-founder), fly.de (founder), ocean24.com, FTI Group,

Academic background: History & Politics, US/Germany and Business Administration & Management, UK

Why travel? I'm passionate about discovering new places and experiencing other cultures

Judith Eyck – Head of Virtual Tour Operating, Market NL & Data Analytics

Expertise: Building and scaling commercial strategy, travel tech.

Career Highlights: Co-founder at Vakanties.nl, CEO of Zoover and Marketing Manager at Sunweb

Academic background: Cultural Economics

Why travel? To escape city life and breathe in nature, see horizons, and discover great hikes.

Magdalena Klaffenböck – Acting Head of Marketing

Location: Berlin - Passau

Expertise: Growth Marketing, Acquisition, Lead Generation, CRM

Career Highlights: Gaining deep knowledge of all things marketing at HolidayPirates, resulting in this leadership role.

Academic background: Tourism and Business Studies

Why travel? I couldn't imagine anything better than to help people live their travel dreams.

Mara Zatti – Head of Brand & Communications

Expertise: PR, Journalism, communications and brand management

Career Highlights: Lecturer at German and Italian Universities, Journalist and Editor at “Zeit Sprachen”, Responsible for Southern Europe and LatAmerica PR and Communications (Babbel)

Academic background: Master of Arts, Italy and a PhD in Classical Archaeology, Germany

Why travel? To meet new people and escape the routine, my biggest enemy!

Pablo Santaella Robles – Head of Market, Spain

Location: Seville

Expertise: Business development, with a focus on the travel sector and tourism.

Career Highlights: Working at Airbus in logistics, and Meliá Hotels International prior to climbing aboard at the HolidayPirates Group

Why travel? Travel opens your mind! As Mark Twain said: "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness."

Phil Salcedo - Head of Market, UK & North America

Location: Liverpool

Expertise: Building and training award-winning teams across Europe, North America, and APAC, with a focus on travel, events and dining.

Career Highlights: BBC Producer; VP of Publishing, Travelzoo; roles in oil exploration and yacht chartering in Canada and Australia, and 18 years in the online travel industry

Academic background: LLB Law, London University

Why travel? Insight and innovation is not found in one location.

Stefano Bergamaschi – Head of Market, Italy & France

Expertise: Editorial content, tourism, business development

Career Highlights: Knowledge and management of 3 main European markets (Content Lead and Head of Market Italy, Head of Market France, Content Lead UK)

Academic background: Bachelor and Master’s degree in Tourism (Milan)

Why travel? ‘Cause there’s nothing better than that!

Vivien Schwarz-Elbelazi – Head of People & Culture

Expertise: Vast experience in human resources management, talent acquisition, change management and project management across different industries since 2007 and a Systemic Coach.

Career Highlights: Group Lead of talent acquisition at Zalando, Co-Founder of a charity organisation.

Academic background: Business Administration (Germany), certified coach (Humboldt-University, Germany)

Why travel? Encounters with people of different beliefs, cultures and foods. Exploring new places or just simply when I am in need of sun at a beach.

Frequently asked questions

Which countries do the holidaypirates group operate in.

Germany - UrlaubsPiraten

Austria - UrlaubsPiraten

Switzerland - Ferie nPiraten

France - VoyagesPirates

Italy - PiratinViaggio

The Netherlands - VakantiePiraten

Poland - WakacyjniPiraci

Spain - ViajerosPiratas

The United Kingdom - HolidayPirates

The United States - TravelPirates

Where is the HolidayPirates Group based?

We are headquartered in Berlin, but due to our hybrid working model many of our pirates live and work all over Europe.

How does the HolidayPirates Group find travel deals?

Our expert editorial teams search innumerable databases for cheap flights, hotels and travel packages. Similarly we comb the web for vouchers, bus and train deals and even price errors. In addition, through our partners' solutions we provide thousands of offers from well-known tour operators and airlines.

How can I find out about new deals?

You can stay up to date with our great deals by setting custom alerts on our app, on WhatsApp, following us on social media, subscribing to our newsletter or simply visiting one of our websites.

The deal I want isn’t available as listed, what happened?

The best deals are often time sensitive - to avoid missing out, you can subscribe to customisable push notifications on your preferred messaging app, or email updates to receive the best deals as soon as they become available.

I have a problem with my booking, who can help?

While we find and share the best deals on our platforms, the bookings are ultimately made with an online travel agency. We call these our booking partners, and if you need to adjust, cancel or seek support with your booking please contact them directly.

How can I find out about careers with the HolidayPirates Group?

We are always looking for talented, dedicated and highly motivated individuals, as our success depends on our employees' competence, drive and motivation. For that reason we happily offer exciting tasks within a fun and friendly working environment with a great company culture, competitive terms and good opportunities for career development.

To find out more, visit us here

How do I contact the HolidayPirates Group?

For general enquiries, please email: [email protected]

For press enquiries please email: [email protected]

Please note that if your query is regarding a travel booking, you must contact the booking partner directly.

HolidayPirates: Travel Deals 4+

Travel & hotel deals & offers, holidaypirates gmbh, designed for ipad.

• #173 in Travel
• 4.7 • 17.5K Ratings

Screenshots

Description.

Whether you’re looking for a last minute beach holiday, discounts on train tickets, rental cars, or cheap flights with a budget airline, HolidayPirates has you covered! *** Winner of World Travel Awards 2018 *** How does the HolidayPirates App work? STEP 1 – We find the best trips by identifying combinations of flights, hotels or holiday packages with the best price value STEP 2 – We post these travel deals on our HolidayPirates App, including customisation options such as departure airports, destinations, and travel dates STEP 3 – You book – the faster the better as the best deals expire quickly! What can you do on the HolidayPirates App? HOTTEST TRAVEL DEALS Check out our latest deals to find the trip that suits you best! We always provide you with extensive information on the destination, prices, and accommodation. As we’ve done the hard work for you, you won’t have to engage in any further research. You can simply click and book your dream holiday. The abundance of customisation options regarding travel dates, departure airports, and destinations allows you to select the ones that suit your travel needs best. TRAVEL DEAL CATEGORIES – FLIGHTS, HOTELS, AND PACKAGES Browse our travel categories to find the type of trip that you’re looking for. We have flight deals, hotel deals, holiday packages, cruises, and more! You can either have a look at our best deals across all categories or select the category that you’re interested in. USE OUR SEARCH ENGINE TO FIND YOUR PERFECT TRIP You haven’t found any travel deals for the destination that you had in mind? You’re struggling to find a flight from your nearest departure airport? No worries! You can search for customised deals in the Booking section of the HolidayPirates App. Search in our categories of Holidays, Flights + Hotel combinations, Flights only, Hotels only, Car Hire, Cruises, and Holiday Homes to find a trip that suits your needs. TRAVEL ALERTS – DON’T MISS OUT ON YOUR DREAM HOLIDAY With our amazing travel alerts you'll never miss out on a deal again! This feature allows you to set up alerts based on your travel preferences. Simply choose your preferred destinations, departure airports, and budget. As soon as we find a deal that matches your requirements, we'll send you a notification. USE THE FILTERS TO SEE TAILORED HOLIDAY DEALS If you have a clear idea of the trip that you want, our filters will help you find the perfect holiday. For example, if you wish to look at beach holidays in Spain in July or low budget flights to New York City, simply click on the filters and enter your requirements. You can filter by deal category, departure airport, destination and travel period. WE’RE THERE FOR YOU Do you have any questions about our app? Send us an e-mail at [email protected], we will do our best to address your question as soon as possible! Follow us on: Facebook www.facebook.com/Holidaypirates Instagram www.instagram.com/Holidaypirates Twitter www.twitter.com/Holidaypirates You can also sign up to receive our hottest deals via WhatsApp: www.holidaypirates.com/pages/whatsapp Sign up for our newsletter and have the best holiday deals sent directly to your inbox: www.holidaypirates.com/newsletter/subscribe Are you a fan of our pirate app? Leave us a review in the App Store and tell us what you love about it! So jump aboard our deal hunting pirate ship and book your perfect holiday today!

Version 4.9.1

Minor bug fixes

Ratings and Reviews

17.5K Ratings

Ahoy ship Mates 😁

I've had many fantastic deals Through holiday Pirates at exceptional prices though I am yet to see them top this.....Edinburgh to Dubai for 3 nights, Dubai to Vietnam, for 5 nights, Vietnam to Thailand for 10 nights, Thailand to Abu Dhabi for 3 nights before returning to Edinburgh all flights were with Emirates apart from Vietnam to Thailand as was just a short flight 👌 all this cost was £355, yes you read that right a "measly £355", after I booked this I spent a long 10 months awaiting some sort of correspondence informing me that this was an error, as it really did seem far to good to be true! You can't usually get one of those long haul flights with Emirates from a London airport at that price let alone all them from "Edinburgh" which is an overpriced airport at the best of times! I booked my hotels last minute incase its was cancelled which it wasnt and had a once in a lifetime holiday 😁 I look everyday for something to come close to that deal but it's yet to happen!

Useful features

Newly discovered this app through their page on Facebook, they have lots of inexpensive holiday deals that you can search through to book your next holiday. They include all the important information, and they have a map feature which allows you to see how close the hotel is to the beach which is incredibly useful. Would recommend.

Incredible deals you won’t find elsewhere!

I’ve been on several amazing holidays thanks to Holiday Pirates. Holidays I could not have afforded otherwise! I recommend them to EVERYONE. My Friends tell me I should be working for them, as I am constantly showing people the app & the amazing deals they could be getting. Thank you for making my dream of travelling the world possible, even on a tight budget!

App Privacy

The developer, Holidaypirates GmbH , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Used to Track You

The following data may be used to track you across apps and websites owned by other companies:

• Search History
• Identifiers

Data Linked to You

The following data may be collected and linked to your identity:

• Contact Info

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

• Diagnostics

Privacy practices may vary based on, for example, the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Polish, Spanish

• Developer Website
• App Support
• Privacy Policy

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Urgent warning for Brits NOT to visit 24 countries after Foreign Office travel notice – map reveals world’s no-go areas

• Jessica Baker , Foreign News Reporter
• Published : 10:56, 10 May 2024
• Updated : 15:53, 10 May 2024
• Published : Invalid Date,

THERE are now 24 countries off-limits to UK holidaymakers as the Foreign Office warns travellers may be detained - or worse.

Eight destinations have this year been added to the list of places deemed "too dangerous" for Brits.

Brits' travel insurance may not be valid if they visit a destination against the UK government's advice - and consular support can be "severely limited" as some countries do not have a British Embassy.

The Foreign Office (FCDO) advises against all but essential travel to places including Afghanistan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Haiti, Iran , Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, and Niger.

But travel to North Korea, Gaza, Russia , Somalia, Somaliland, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine , Venezuela, and Yemen is also banned.

Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Sudan, Lebanon, Israel, Belarus, and Gaza were all added to the list of no-go zones this year.

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British and British-Iranian dual nationals are at "significant risk" of arbitrary arrest, questioning, or detention in Iran, said the FCDO.

The Foreign Office stated: "Holding a British passport can be reason enough for the Iranian authorities to question you.

"If you are detained in Iran, you could face months or years in prison ."

EASTERN EUROPE

The Foreign Office advises Brits against all travel to Russia due to the risks and threats associated with its invasion of Ukraine, which include security incidents such as drone attacks and "explosions".

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The FCDO said: "There is also a high likelihood that terrorists will try to carry out attacks, including in major cities."

All travel to most of Ukraine is also banned, as Russian missile and drone attacks continue to cause significant damage to residential areas, injuring and killing civilians.

Brits must also avoid travelling to Belarus, where Russian military operations are taking place, as there is "some risk" that direct conflict linked to the war in Ukraine may spread to the country.

MIDDLE EAST

Warnings against travelling to all parts of Israel, Lebanon, and Gaza come amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Palestinian militant group Hamas unleashed terror on southern Israel on October 7 last year, killing some 1,200 people and dragging 250 hostages back to the besieged enclave of Gaza.

Israel is now preparing to launch a full-scale invasion into the already-battered Palestinian city of Rafah, located in the southern Gaza Strip, to wipe out the Hamas militants which it claims are hiding there.

The world's most dangerous countries in 2024

BEFORE booking your next trip, it might be worth looking into whether your dream holiday destination is one of the world's most dangerous.

These are the nine most dangerous countries in the world, according to International SOS :

• Afghanistan
• Central African Republic
• South Sudan

Hamas continues to launch rockets into Israel.

The Foreign Office stated: "There are continued exchanges of rocket and small arms fire over Israel’s northern border with Lebanon and a potential increase in rocket attacks and other incidents of violence across Israel and the OPTs (Occupied Palestinian Territories), including the West Bank."

It added that the "fast-moving situation" poses significant risks and has the potential to deteriorate quickly and without warning.

NORTHEAST AFRICA

All travel to Sudan is effectively forbidden to Brits due to ongoing military conflict.

The FCDO noted the UK is no longer evacuating people from Sudan and cannot offer advice on the safety of travelling to any potential departure point, stating: "Any travel options you pursue are taken at your own risk."

Brits who travel to other banned countries face threats to their security and lives.

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Travel in Afghanistan is "extremely dangerous" and British nationals face a "heightened risk of being detained", which could lead to them being imprisoned for months or years.

There is no British Embassy in the country, so the FCDO cannot give help in person and the British government may not be informed if a Brit is arrested.

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Travel chaos at airports across UK - as London and Manchester confirm nationwide border issue

Both Stansted and Gatwick airports said the issue was related to e-gates at passport control.

By Claire Gilbody Dickerson, news reporter

Tuesday 7 May 2024 23:08, UK

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Chaos has been reported at airports across the UK - as several airports have confirmed a nationwide border issue.

A Heathrow spokesperson said: "Border Force is currently experiencing a nationwide issue which is impacting passengers being processed through the border.

"Our teams are supporting Border Force with their contingency plans to help resolve the problem as quickly as possible and are on hand to provide passenger welfare. We apologise for any impact this is having to passenger journeys."

UK airports confirmed to be affected by Border Force issue

London Heathrow

London Gatwick

London Stansted

Southampton

Follow latest: 'Queues only getting bigger' after London and Manchester a irports confirm nationwide issue

Manchester Airport also confirmed that the UK Border System is down as part of a nationwide outage.

Bristol Airport said on X it had also been affected by the issue as it warned passengers that "e-gates are not available and wait times may be longer than normal".

A spokesperson for AGS Airports which operates Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports has told Sky News they are impacted by the nationwide outage of the UK Border system.

The flights schedule means they are not currently affected by any queues, but Glasgow airport is due to have international arrivals later this evening.

The spokesperson said that if the situation continues they would expect passengers to be affected at Glasgow airport but contingency plans are in place and extra staff will be on hand to assist passengers.

A London Gatwick spokesperson said: "Some passengers may experience delays at immigration due to a nationwide issue with UK Border Force e-gates.

"Our staff are working with UK Border Force - who operate passport control including the e-gates - to provide assistance to passengers where necessary."

It said its teams are working to assist passengers in the airport.

Seems to be a UK nationwide airport system crash. No e gates working. This is the current queue in Gatwick airport with lots of children and no water #welcometotheuk pic.twitter.com/ckT21gJYXx — Rosie (@rxsiebo) May 7, 2024

A passenger at Gatwick Airport posted a video of the queues, saying on X that there were "lots of children and no water".

At Gatwick airport, the queue is over an hour long, with people being given no information on how long it may take for them to get through passport control, Sky News understands, while getting people on trains into London has also become an issue.

One passenger at Heathrow Airport said they had already been in the queue for an hour and it was "only getting bigger".

They added there had been "no communication" on how long it may take to resolve the issue.

Sky News correspondent Sadiya Chowdhury, reporting from Heathrow Airport, said one passenger had been in a queue for about three hours.

Last year, at the end of May, there were similar problems with e-gates and it took a day to resolve the issue as human officers had to check people's passports while the automated machines were out of service.

The country's air traffic system also suffered issues in August 2023 when a technical problem disrupted the National Air Traffic Service for several hours.

Long queues at Heathrow airport where passengers are being held at arrivals for a system failure. Been here already 1hour and the queue is only getting bigger. No communication given to anyone on what is the timeframe to sort this out. #welcomeback #heathrow #london #england pic.twitter.com/1BR71tetJh — A N D Y (@A_N_D_Y_3) May 7, 2024

Stansted Airport said on X: "UK Border Force is experiencing nationwide issues affecting e-gates at a number of airports, including London Stansted."

They said in a statement to Sky News: "Our operational and customer service colleagues are supporting passengers while UK Border Force and the Home Office fix the issue."

Edinburgh Airport said: "Border Force is experiencing a nationwide technical outage affecting UK airports.

"Although not in a peak arrivals period, some passengers may experience longer than normal waits at the Border while UKBF works to fix the issue." It added: "Thank you for your patience."

A Home Office spokesperson said: "We are aware of a technical issue affecting e-gates across the country.

"We are working closely with Border Force and affected airports to resolve the issue as soon as possible and apologise to all passengers for the inconvenience caused."

The disruption comes after Border Force workers staged a four-day strike at Heathrow in a dispute over working conditions last week.

The union said the workers were protesting against plans to introduce new rosters they claim will see around 250 of them forced out of their jobs at passport control.

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JetBlue to Cut Routes Across the U.S., U.K. in Major Change-up

The changes will take place in October.

JetBlue is making major changes to its network for this summer and fall following the U.S. government’s breakup of its planned merger with Spirit Airlines earlier this year. 

Travelers in the New York, Boston, and Los Angeles area will be most affected, with a handful of route cuts and reduced transatlantic service to Europe during the winter months. However, there will also be a boost in service on JetBlue’s popular lie-flat business class cabin, Mint, to hot spots like Phoenix and Vancouver (along with new San Juan and Caribbean flights ).

Route Cuts and Reductions

While JetBlue only started flying to Europe in recent years JetBlue will slightly scale back its transatlantic operation during the slower winter season this year. It’s not unusual for major U.S. airlines to deploy their aircraft more efficiently during this time period (more on that below).   Starting Oct. 27, JetBlue will cut Boston (BOS) and JFK service to London-Gatwick (LGW) and reduce service between JFK and Paris (CDG) to once daily, from twice daily. The airline will continue to fly daily to London-Heathrow (LHR) from both JFK and BOS. JetBlue also intends to bring back these flights later in 2025 when the warmer months return—and along with it, the crowds to Europe.  The New York City-based airline will cut service on select North American routes entirely starting on Oct. 27 — with the hardest hit being New York LaGuardia (LGA) — including:

• LGA to Atlanta (ATL)
• LGA to New Orleans (MSY)
• LGA to Nassau, Bahamas (NAS) 
• LGA to Fort Myers (RSW)
• Los Angeles (LAX) to Orlando (MCO)
• Los Angeles (LAX) to Newark (EWR)
• JFK to Puerto Vallarta (PVR)

More Lie-Flat Seats in the Americas 

JetBlue’s much-beloved premium Mint cabin , which is only found on select JetBlue aircraft, will make its debut on several routes. That includes a once-daily service beginning in July between JFK and Vancouver (YVR); and JFK and San Juan (SJU). Starting in late October, travel to Phoenix (PHX) will be getting a major upgrade with the airport’s only dedicated lie-flat business class service domestically. JetBlue will launch Mint seasonal flights from PHX to Fort Lauderdale (FLL), JFK, and BOS. In addition, Mint-equipped planes will also operate between FLL and Las Vegas (LAS). All of these new Mint flights mean more opportunities to travel in style within North America. 

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75-year-old 'mastermind' of a 2005 armed robbery that killed a UK police officer sentenced to life

A 75-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a British police officer who was shot dead during an armed robbery of a travel agency in northern England nearly two decades ago

LONDON — A 75-year-old man will spend the rest of his life in prison after being sentenced Friday for the murder of a British police officer who was shot dead during an armed robbery in northern England nearly two decades ago.

Piran Ditta Khan was convicted in April, as he had fled the country to Pakistan soon after the murder of Sharon Beshenivsky. He was extradited to the U.K. last year.