Nocturnal activities in museums and galleries and great accommodation deals for May
*Take me there: museums at night*
A kids' sleepover at Kensington Palace, an all-night poetry workshop in Norwich and a beach party in Newcastle City Library are just some of the many nocturnal events taking place this month as part of the annual Museums at Night event. This festival of after-hours cultural happenings will be taking place in museums, galleries and heritage sites across the country from 16-18 May. Many of the events are free, but some, like the Doctor Who-themed sleepover at Manchester's John Rylands Library must be booked in advance. For more information, visit culture24.org.uk/museumsatnight.
*It's a great time to… book a half-term break*
If you've been inspired by the recent spell of bright weather to book a spring break, there are still some great accommodation deals around for May, including half-term week.
Cornish Cottages is offering savings of up to £200 on selected properties for half-term (cornishcottages.co.uk). A week's rental of the Bay Retreat Villas – contemporary two-bedroom villas (each sleeping five) near Padstow – has been reduced to £750.
DoubleTree by Hilton, which has 40 hotels in the UK and Europe, is offering discounted rates on short breaks until the end of May (doubletree.com). In Derbyshire, the DoubleTree by Hilton Sheffield Park has a "heritage package" for the bank holiday weekend (24-25 May) and half-term (27 May-2 June). Prices start at £199 for two people with two nights' accommodation, dinner on the first night, afternoon tea and tickets to Haddon Hall, a medieval manor house.
And finally, if you prefer to flee overseas, Canvas Holidays has some rather chunky 40% savings on its European campsites with a week at the Lac de Chalain site in the Jura mountains departing on 25 May, down from £643 to £397 for a two-bedroom mobile home sleeping six (canvasholidays.co.uk).
*Give me a break: The week's best deals*
*Home* The White Hart, a 16th-century coaching inn near Chippenham, has recently re-opened following a makeover. The 16th-century stone-clad pub now offers 11 tastefully kitted-out rooms, a traditional bar with oak beams and log fire, and a menu of British comfort-food favourites. Rooms cost from £79 a night. Quote "opening25" to get a discount of £25 until the end of May (whitehart-ford.com)
*Away* Looking for a low-cost break in Brussels? The newly opened Retro Hotel, situated close to the Botanique, offers 25 fresh rooms with a mid-century vibe (think Arco lamps, Eames chairs) and free Wi-Fi. Room prices start at a commendably low €70 per night (excluding breakfast), but you can save a further 20% if you stay there before 31 May (retrohotelbxl.com) Reported by guardian.co.uk 8 hours ago.
*Take me there: museums at night*
A kids' sleepover at Kensington Palace, an all-night poetry workshop in Norwich and a beach party in Newcastle City Library are just some of the many nocturnal events taking place this month as part of the annual Museums at Night event. This festival of after-hours cultural happenings will be taking place in museums, galleries and heritage sites across the country from 16-18 May. Many of the events are free, but some, like the Doctor Who-themed sleepover at Manchester's John Rylands Library must be booked in advance. For more information, visit culture24.org.uk/museumsatnight.
*It's a great time to… book a half-term break*
If you've been inspired by the recent spell of bright weather to book a spring break, there are still some great accommodation deals around for May, including half-term week.
Cornish Cottages is offering savings of up to £200 on selected properties for half-term (cornishcottages.co.uk). A week's rental of the Bay Retreat Villas – contemporary two-bedroom villas (each sleeping five) near Padstow – has been reduced to £750.
DoubleTree by Hilton, which has 40 hotels in the UK and Europe, is offering discounted rates on short breaks until the end of May (doubletree.com). In Derbyshire, the DoubleTree by Hilton Sheffield Park has a "heritage package" for the bank holiday weekend (24-25 May) and half-term (27 May-2 June). Prices start at £199 for two people with two nights' accommodation, dinner on the first night, afternoon tea and tickets to Haddon Hall, a medieval manor house.
And finally, if you prefer to flee overseas, Canvas Holidays has some rather chunky 40% savings on its European campsites with a week at the Lac de Chalain site in the Jura mountains departing on 25 May, down from £643 to £397 for a two-bedroom mobile home sleeping six (canvasholidays.co.uk).
*Give me a break: The week's best deals*
*Home* The White Hart, a 16th-century coaching inn near Chippenham, has recently re-opened following a makeover. The 16th-century stone-clad pub now offers 11 tastefully kitted-out rooms, a traditional bar with oak beams and log fire, and a menu of British comfort-food favourites. Rooms cost from £79 a night. Quote "opening25" to get a discount of £25 until the end of May (whitehart-ford.com)
*Away* Looking for a low-cost break in Brussels? The newly opened Retro Hotel, situated close to the Botanique, offers 25 fresh rooms with a mid-century vibe (think Arco lamps, Eames chairs) and free Wi-Fi. Room prices start at a commendably low €70 per night (excluding breakfast), but you can save a further 20% if you stay there before 31 May (retrohotelbxl.com) Reported by guardian.co.uk 8 hours ago.