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Local historian Gary Stone looks at the history of Chingford's lido
The Open House Festival - running from September 13 to 21 - returns to London this year, celebrating the city's architecture, neighbourhood and communities.
Outrageous adult pantomime Sinderella is coming to Scala London from Dec 19–Jan 11, promising risqué humour, music, and festive mischief for mature audiences.
Henley-on-Thames has been named among the UK's prettiest market towns, and it's just 40 minutes from London.
Detectives have released footage of a man they wish to speak to following a handful of sexual assaults in Hillingdon.
A man who beat his dad to death in a flat in Earls Court has been jailed for 18 years.
Gen Z's favourite scents include vanilla, strawberries, cherry blossom, and ‘clean skin.’
Brits spend nearly six days a year wishing they could undo certain life choices, like getting a tattoo, cutting their own fringe – and staying with an ex for too long.
More than £116bn in fixed-rate savings will mature by the end of the year – leaving savers at risk of seeing their returns drop from nearly 4.5 per cent to 2.4 per cent if they slip onto variable rates. According to an analysis of CACI's monthly savings data, £58.9bn is tied up in non-ISAs and another £57.5bn in ISAs, with over 3.5 million accounts facing a significant drop in earnings unless they take action. Non-ISA accounts maturing between September and December are coming off an average rate of 4.53 per cent compared to the current average easy access rate of 2.42 per cent. For ISAs, the average maturity rate over the same period is 4.46 per cent, with the average ISA easy access rate currently at 2.70 per cent.Because some providers automatically move fixed-term accounts into variable easy access ones when they mature, it means savers could potentially see their interest rate significantly drop if they leave their savings as they are. The analysis was carried out by Skipton Building Society, which also commissioned research of 2,000 adults, that revealed 39 per cent rarely or never move their money around. Of these, 21 per cent find it too complicated, while 18 per cent prefer to keep their money in one place. But 12 per cent worry about losing access to their funds if they were to transfer them – with 31 per cent suffering from ‘money moving paralysis’. Alex Sitaras, head of savings and partnerships at the building society, said: “Too many savers are missing out on money simply by standing still - letting their savings sit in accounts with low interest rates, especially when their fixed-rate deals come to an end. “When a fixed-rate account matures, many providers automatically switch customers to a default variable rate, which is often significantly lower. “The difference between 4.5 per cent and 2.5 per cent might not sound dramatic, but for the average saver, it could mean losing hundreds of pounds a year. “These findings show just how vital it is to protect savers from rate shocks at the end of their term. “We believe in fairness – so where possible, we aim to transfer the majority of our customers onto another fixed-rate option at the end of the fixed rate period. “However, when the fixed term comes to an end, we are mindful that this may be a lower rate than they started with, so we encourage all our members to come and have a conversation with us to see what option is right for them. “It is crucial to stay alert when your fixed-rate savings mature – better rates options are worth shopping around for and can make a real difference to your savings.” It also emerged nearly one in 10 (nine per cent) never check the interest rates on their savings accounts. Additionally, 18 per cent said they lack awareness of better rates available. In fact, 16 per cent haven’t opened a new savings account in the last five years, with 22 per cent believing it’s too much effort to switch. But 19 per cent are concerned they might make the wrong choice if they did. However, 62 per cent have opened an account only to see the interest rate drop after a period – leaving 46 per cent disappointed and 40 per cent annoyed. Almost two-thirds (63 per cent) said they would be likely to seek financial advice if they knew their savings rate was reducing. The areas they were most keen to receive guidance on were finding the best savings rates (54 per cent) and learning how to make the most of their money (49 per cent). The research also found 43 per cent currently hold a fixed-rate savings account which hasn’t yet matured, and 41 per cent have had their fixed-rate deal come to an end. One in three (34 per cent) don’t understand the term “account maturity” in relation to fixed savings with 17 per cent admitting they don’t understand what happens when an account reaches maturity. When this happened, 59 per cent moved their money to a new account – either with the same provider (31 per cent) or a different one (28 per cent). But 10 per cent left the money where it was, according to research carried out by OnePoll. Of those who do move their money, 62 per cent choose the provider offering the highest rate, while 35 per cent prioritise access to their funds. Alex Sitaras from Skipton Building Society added: “Far too often, savings accounts that began with competitive interest rates end up quietly drifting onto low variable rates and many savers don’t even realise it. “That means they could be missing out on the opportunity to earn more from their money. “While it’s encouraging to see some people actively managing their savings, not everyone feels confident navigating their options. “That’s why guidance matters – and we why offer a free money advice service to help people plan ahead and make smarter decisions about their finances. “But for those with savings of £20,000 or more, moving money into a pension or investment could be a better long-term option, provided they are happy to take some risk with their money. “So being able to also provide face-to-face regulated financial advice on the high street, can present longer-term solutions like pensions or investments, which can offer the chance for stronger returns and greater financial security.”
More than half of hotels feel pressure to keep upgrading their tech, according to Hotels.com’s 2025 Hotel Room Innsights survey.The annual report of over 450 properties across the globe revealed how hotel room tech has evolved and modernised, from booking to check-out. Which resulted in a wave of innovation that has hotel rooms getting smarter and guests racing to keep up. These included, verbal tech walk-through at check-in which half of hotels now offer. This helps guests navigate tech-related features like smart lighting, Wi-Fi, and in-room entertainment systems. High-tech hotels are investing in practical, comfort-enhancing innovations like smart fans, customisable lighting and smart TVs rather than investing in robots and automation. While 70 per cent of hotels say guests still prefer to speak to a human, especially at check-in and when needing support, highlighting the irreplaceable importance of face-to-face service. And tech upgrades like AI-powered concierge services, voice-activated room controls, and even robot chefs are things hotels are most interested in adding as they look to improve service and personalisation. As hotels invest in in-room innovation, Hotels.com is updating behind the scenes to make the booking process more intuitive. Automated Hotel Price Alerts notify guests when rates drop, and the AI search filter helps travellers narrow down options quickly. Melanie Fish, a spokesperson from Hotels,com said: “From smart showers to room service-delivering robots, this year’s Innsights survey shows hotels around the world are using tech in ways from functional to novel,” said Melanie Fish, vice president of global public relations. “It’s also clear there’s a sweet spot when it comes to smart hotel rooms: intuitive and personalised, but still easy to navigate.” While some hotels are experimenting with robot butlers and facial recognition at check-in, most are focusing on “ComfortTech” - practical upgrades that enhance comfort and usability and are quickly becoming the new normal. One hotel partner noted, “Features like fast Wi-Fi, TV connectivity, and intuitive in-room controls have become standard expectations among guests.” According to the survey, the most common tech enhancements include, smart TVs connected to streaming services and Bluetooth speakers, smart energy systems, water-saving devices, efficient fans and food waste reduction. As well as mobile check-in/check-out and AI-powered concierge and chatbot services. Furthermore, many hotels are making significant upgrades to an unexpected area - the bathroom. Bathrooms now may include smart mirrors with weather updates and news, digital water temperature controls and motion-sensor faucets. Smart shower heads that change colour based on water usage is an upcoming trend, as well as Japanese toilets and smart bidets, voice-activated bath filling and accessibility innovations like bathtubs that lower for wheelchair users. As hotel rooms get more sophisticated, many guests are struggling to keep up. Hotels reported that guests most commonly have problems with lighting, Wi-Fi, entertainment systems and the air conditioning. To bridge the gap, 52 per cent of hotels now offer a verbal tech walkthrough at check-in, reinforcing the importance of human interaction. Some hotels admitted that they’ve removed automated features like robots at breakfast service or in the lobby. While the heart of hospitality still lies in the people, 70 per cent of hotels surveyed said that guests prefer human interaction for check-in and front desk support. As one hotel put it: “Warm, personalised service fosters real connections and allows us to address guest needs with empathy and care.” When asked what technologies they were most interested in pursuing, responses ranged from AI-powered solutions to robotic staff, revealing a bold vision for the future of guest experiences. Other standout ideas included concierge services, energy-saving automation, and real-time face-to-face translation. While cooking robots, luggage transport, meal delivery, housekeeping, and outdoor maintenance also featured alongside voice-controlled rooms, sleep monitoring devices, and smart mirrors.
Whether you're visiting Lancaster, or live there, all of the below should be on your checklist of things to do! You do not want to miss out on Lancasters wonders.
Whether you're visiting Lancaster, or live there, all of the below should be on your checklist of things to do! You do not want to miss out on Lancasters wonders.