Travel Notes...

What’s new and how to get the best from your holiday

WILD RIDE

COME face-to-face with a big scary Gruffalo in the world’s first ride themed around the children’s character. Opening at Chessington World of Adventures Resort at midday today, the magical riverboat journey ventures through the deep, dark wood of the storybooks. Tickets cost from £28, but megafans can also include a stay in a Gruffalo room from £40pp B&B, chessington.com/2017.

TREASURE TROVE

FOLLOWING its popularity in Paris, THATMuse, Treasure Hunt At The Museum, launches at London’s British Museum on March 31. Teams of two to four seek out artefacts while answering questions and posing for photos. Group bookings are taken, or join a public hunt every other Friday, 5.30pm to 7pm (adults, £15; under-13s, £10), thatmuse.com.

CRUISE CALLING

THOMSON Cruises has announced new itineraries. The TUI Discovery ship will dock in Newcastle and Southampton from 2018, with trips around the Baltic and Norwegian fjords from both ports, as well as western Europe from Southampton. thomson.co.uk/cruise.

ARTS & RECREATION

FOR culture junkies on a budget, the New Culture Index by travelsupermarket.com reveals which European cities offer the best value for money, taking into account free museums, festivals and street art. Slovakia’s capital, Bratislava, came top, with Marseille and Hamburg runners up.

CAST YOUR VOTE

HAVE your say in deciding which travel companies best serve the over-50s by voting in the 2017 Silver Travel Awards. Winners across 17 categories are determined by public vote, open from now until April 30, 2017, at research.net/r/SilverAwards. You could win a 13-night Saga Cruise for two to the Canaries in the prize draw.