With all of this firmly in mind, I made my way to Wentworth last month, uncertain of what to expect. Did “strict” village mean strict residents, too? Would I get funny looks or be made to feel unwelcome?

Any such reservations were rapidly dispelled the moment I began chatting with locals. Feeling peckish upon arrival, I nipped into the aptly named Wentworth Village Shop for a quick bite to eat.

Greeted with the warm Yorkshire welcome I’ve come to expect since relocating to the East Riding in 2025, I quickly felt completely at ease. Having sampled what may well have been the nicest caramel shortbread I’ve ever tasted, I set off for a wander along the main stretch.

Wentworth’s famous green paintwork was immediately apparent, true to reports. Not merely the doors and drainpipes; I also spotted railings that bore the same hue.

As I strolled along the street, I found myself struck by the striking sandstone buildings.

It was a gloriously sunny day, amongst the warmest I had experienced this year, and the heat only added to the village’s charm. I walked beneath a canopy of trees and up the drive towards the impressive Grade II-listed Holy Trinity Church.

I stood for a moment to admire the spire as it blocked out the sun and produced a somewhat cinematic scene before making my way back and heading towards Exile Vintage and Antiques on Barrowfield Lane.

A friendly woman in the shop told me what she thought of the village’s “strict” reputation. She seemed to suggest that the village only benefited as a result, a sentiment with which I thought it would be tough to disagree with.

I ate at The George and Dragon: lamb, sticky toffee pudding and a pint of Guinness 0.0. It was a decent meal in a lovely pub — and the large beer garden is a real highlight.

As I headed to my car, I found myself thinking about the “strict” label. It didn’t match what I’d experienced. Sure, there were rules, but the people I met were friendly, and the village itself felt peaceful.

Even the parts that featured in the news only added to Wentworth’s charm, all the way down to the green paintwork. And as I admired the stunning Yorkshire countryside as I left, I found myself thinking that I would definitely be back.

That works out to a crime rate of 149 offences per 1,000 residents. The unwelcome top ranking came despite the town seeing a 3% drop in crime in the last 12 months. Its rise above Middlesbrough, which was top last year, is fuelled by particularly high rates of violent offences.

Locals have pushed back on some of the more doomy characterisations of the town, arguing that specific areas face issues, but the town is safe overall.

However, Blackpool Council has recognised that the area needs a shot in the arm and has made progress on a £350million redevelopment of a 20-acre area around Blackpool North train station, creating a central business district called Talbot Gateway.

Projects completed under the first two phases of the work, which began around 2012, include:

• Number One Bickerstaffe Square, the new 125,000 sq ft Blackpool Council HQ
• Holiday Inn Blackpool with 144 rooms with a Marco Pierre White restaurant on site
• A more than 120,000 sq ft Sainsbury’s supermarket
• A 650- space multi-storey car park
• “Extensive” public spaces
• A new tramway extension and interchange with Blackpool North train station

A 215,000 sq ft office for the UK Government was completed in 2025 as part of a follow-up phase. More developments are on the way, including a multiversity education campus and additional offices, according to the local authority.

All the projects under the current plans are set to be completed by 2028.

The works are part of the council’s wider £2billion regeneration programme for Blackpool.

It comes as councillors look to move Blackpool beyond its reliance on short seasonal boosts to its economy, to establish itself as a more sustainable year-round tourist destination whilst adding more high-quality homes and improving living standards.

Responding to the recent crime stats, Cllr Paula Burdess, the council’s cabinet member for community safety, neighbourhoods and street scene, said: “Incident rates in Blackpool are higher per capita, due in part to the millions of visitors we welcome to our town of 141,000 residents every year,” The Blackpool Gazette reports.

She added that the local council was working with partners, including Lancashire Police, to “tackle issues that lead to violent crimes being committed”.

A spokesperson for the force said: “We remain committed to disrupting and preventing crime across Lancashire, including in Blackpool.

“We want to reassure anyone with concerns that we have dedicated teams across the town, covering a number of different aspects of policing, including community engagement, immediate response, and detectives.”

Brits have been warned that they may face additional charges they may not have been aware of when booking holidays. With summer now just around the corner, millions of Brits are eagerly looking forward to a well-deserved break in the sun.

EasyJet, TUI, and Jet2holidays rank among the UK’s biggest package holiday providers, with countless travellers turning to them to arrange all manner of trips overseas – and 2026 is set to be a busy one. When browsing the respective websites, customers can explore a wide range of holidays and see a price for their chosen trip. Each of these operators helpfully outlines why these holidays may carry extra costs, and how much travellers might be expected to fork out. It all comes down to tourism taxes. The amount you’ll pay depends on your destination, the length of your stay, and whether you’re travelling during peak season. Alongside the quoted price for your holiday, whether booked through TUI, easyJet, or Jet2holidays, you’ll also find an estimated tourism tax figure for the full duration of your trip. This is typically payable directly at your accommodation upon arrival.

Jet2 said: “With some of our package holidays, you may need to pay tourist taxes, which are charges you’ll pay locally in your destination.

“These fees vary by location and are not included in the cost of your package holiday. They may also depend on the type or official rating of your accommodation and the length of your stay.

“Taxes are usually paid in local currency at the accommodation. Please note, the fee is based on the exchange rate at the time of booking and may change when payment is due.”

In any destination where a tourism tax applies, all holidaymakers will be required to pay a standard rate – regardless of which airline or travel operator they have chosen to book with.

It comes as airlines deal with rising fuel costs ahead of the holiday season, due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. About 13,000 flights scheduled for May have been cancelled, the equivalent of about 1% of the month’s flights.

German airline Lufthansa has axed 20,000 flights across Europe this summer due to them being ‘unprofitable’ with current fuel prices.

The airline said jet fuel costs have “doubled since the outbreak of the Iran conflict” due to the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, through which 25% of the world’s oil passes.

Brits have been told not to change any holiday or travel plans they have for this summer, as there is currently no fuel shortage in the UK.