While we may not all be able to jet of to the Seychelles at a days notice, like the newly wed Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, we do have the luxury of some of the finest beaches around. The annual Keep Britain Tidy awards saw 70 beaches in the UK claim the internationally recognised ‘Blue Flag’ with Cornwall having five of the cleanest beaches in England! As well as that 108 beaches received Quality Coast award with 32 of those winning both, meaning we have over 146 award winning beaches right on our doorstep – a perfect excuse to get outside and start discovering the UK’s Coast.

At this time of year when the weather is starting to get warmer there is no better place than relaxing by the beach where ever it is. If you choose a late hotel deal by the beach or a few days in a seaside resort you won’t be able to resist popping down to the sea front and squeezing in a few ice creams or enjoying a quick paddle. As well as that with so many beaches waving the blue flag proudly you are sure to have one only a few hours drive from where you are!

I love a trip to the sea side so I asked some of my good friends on Facebook which of our blue flag beaches they preferred and of course which does the best ice cream and fish and chips! Bridlington is looking like the one to beat so make sure you get your votes in.

Where is your favourite beach? Share your beach knowledge in the comments box below!

The number of people taking in a show during their London break has increased with the appearance of celebrity stars in West End productions. The past year has seen a host of big names take to the stage to huge acclaim including Keira Knightly and Damian Lewis in The Misanthrope, Martin Freeman appearing in Clybourne Park and David Suchet perform in the award winning All my Sons. With further TV and film stars turning to the stage audience numbers are increasing as more of us are taking theatre breaks.

With Lend me a Tenor opening this week starring TV presenter Matthew Kelly, and the news that Justin Lee Collins will take on a role in the West End debut of Rock of Ages the world of theatre and television collide and cry out to a larger audience. The pull of a star name has increased the number of visitors to the West End and opened it up to fresh eyes.  With Sheridan Smith winning the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress for her role as Elle Brooks in Legally Blonde the Musical it shows that stars of the screen can make the move to the stage and do so with great success.

Who would you like to see make the move to the West End? Do you think it would work?

When I was asked to go down to London to see a preview performance of Shrek the Musical I jumped at the chance. Shrek has always been one of my favourite films and I was eager to see exactly how this would play out on stage. With a top cast confirmed I knew I was going to be in for a treat and I wasn’t disappointed.

Two giant story books opened the show as we were introduced to Shrek’s parents as they sang him on his way to an unassuming fairytale world followed by Princess Fiona’s story into the tower. We were introduced to enchanting new songs from the fairy tale cast as they danced and sung their way through the story and the floor to ceiling scenery was amazing. Towards the end of the show the fantastic dragon that was controlled by puppeteers (with helpful tips from the fab War Horse cast) swooped down across the audience to huge cheers and the show ended on a huge high note.

The show is perfect for children old and young and it was great to see so many children enjoying the performance and singing along to the songs they knew. Unlike some adaptations, the story followed the film pretty well a few bits were added and changed to make it work for the theatre but they never took away from the flow of the musical. Nigel Harman as Lord Farquaard easily got the most laughs of the evening as he strutted around on his knees for the whole show, but the cast as a whole were fantastic!

Previews for Shrek started on the 6^th of May with the official opening next month and so far the show has had nothing but fantastic reviews, I won’t give away any more of the story instead you should head down to see the musical for yourself!

There are plenty of places I would love to visit in Europe that are both famous and beautiful, but there is no way I would ever get to see them all. Here are just 3 of the places I am going to try to visit by the end of the year!

1. Bruges

One of the most beautiful medieval cities in Europe, Bruges attracts thousands of people to its cobbled streets on a yearly basis and it’s not just famous for its beauty. Bruges is bursting with history and popular museums such as The Groeninge museum and the Memling museum as well as its fantastic market’s and churches.

2. The Cathedral of Notre-Dame

On the Île de la Cité in Paris stands the Cathedral of Notre-Dame. The site where the Cathedral stands has been a place of worship since Roman times and the building as it stands today took over 200 years to complete! You can also get up close to the gargoyles but only if you fancy walking the 387 steps to the top of the tower!

3. The Scottish Lochs

There are hundreds of Scottish Lochs all over Scotland and it would take forever to explore them all. The beautiful Loch Lomond is the largest of the fresh water lochs and is easy to reach from Glasgow, but the most famous is the Loch Ness thanks to the Loch Ness Monster!

So there are my top 3 places to visit in Europe, what are yours?

This week those of you who applied for tickets to the London Olympics 2012 will find out if you have been successful and what events you’ll be seeing, With this knowledge in hand you can start planning your London break and enjoy the build up to the world biggest sporting event. With just over a year to go until the big event, Olympic officials have now announced the route that the Olympic torch will take across Britain.

A symbol of the Olympic Games the torch is steeped in history, since the 1936 Games the Olympic torch has followed the tradition of being lit in its ancient home of Greece and then embarking on a relay of Greece before travelling to the host country for a tour. Arriving in the UK on 18^th May 2012 the torch will leave Land’s End on the 19^th May and travel 8,000 miles on a 70 day relay. The Torch will travel through many cities across the country including York, Manchester, Birmingham, Cheltenham, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Liverpool, Belfast, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Newcastle, Leeds, Nottingham, Leicester, Oxford, Southampton and Dover as well as taking a trip to the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands, and the Hebrides. With over 8,000 Torchbearers expected to take part there are plenty of opportunities to get involved before the Torch arrives at the Olympic Stadium for the Opening Ceremony on the 27th July.

Will you be visiting London during the Olympic Games, or perhaps take part in a tour of the Olympic Park. Are you on the torch route? Has it missed your bit of the country out? Will you be nominating anyone to take part and be a torchbearer?

The time has come for the annual Eurovision song contest. Whether you’ll be voting for your favourite short break destination or picking the cheesiest or most sparkling entry over 125 million viewers across the world will watch the Eurovision final. Hosted by Germany the Grand Final is broadcast from the Dusseldorf Arena and will air on BBC One tonight. Following two Semi Finals on the 10th and on the 12th of May the final will feature acts from across Europe all competing for the winning place. Countries that have made it through to the final are Finland, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Denmark, Lithuania, Hungary, Ireland, Sweden, Estonia, Greece, Russia, France, Italy, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Moldova, Germany, Romania, Austria, Azerbaijan, Slovenia, Iceland, Spain, Ukraine, Serbia and Georgia.

With commentary by Graham Norton the country’s eyes will be on Ireland and the United Kingdom entries. Over the past ten years neither country have done very well but throughout the contests history Ireland have won 7 times and the United Kingdom 5 times. During the 1990’s the UK and Ireland achieved the number 1 and 2 spot in 4 of the decade’s contests.

With Ireland’s entry being sung by X-Factor contestants Jedward and the UK utilising the boy band Blue, Duncan James having recently starred in Legally Blonde the musical will this boost their votes from the rest of Europe?

So will you be watching the Eurovision contest? Do you have a party planned and who do you think will win this year? Or will you be avoiding the whole thing?

With millions of people visiting London every year the Capital is a hive of activity. Whether you are planning on visiting London on a theatre break, take in a concert at The O2, walk in the shadows of Royalty or simply experience the buzz of the city there is plenty to keep you entertained. With plenty of intriguing sights, attractions and points of interest that are available to see for free your London break doesn’t have to cost you the earth. Here is our selection of some of the best free activities:

Museums & Art Galleries:

Spend a day as a culture vulture and plan a visit to one of the many galleries and museums London has to offer. From the renowned Natural History Museum and National Science Museum in Kensington to the inspired Tate Modern, National Gallery and British Museum or the Imperial War Museum there is plenty to choose from and something to suit all tastes.

The Royal Parks

With eight Royal Parks across the City there is plenty of parkland for you to enjoy, whether you are exploring the heritage site of Greenwich or strolling through Regents Park you’ll feel a million miles from the hub of London. Many of the parks have their own unique treasures such as the Peter Pan Statue in Kensington Gardens or the Diana Memorial in Hyde Park.

Changing of the Guard

Witness the spectacle of The Queen’s Guard as they perform the Changing of The Guard ceremony at Buckingham, Palace. Conducted on the grounds in front of Buckingham Palace the ceremony takes 40 minutes to complete. From May to July you can see the Changing of the Guard every day at 11.30am, throughout the rest of the year the ceremony is only performed on alternate days.

Festivals and Markets

Coincide your London break with one of the city’s many festivals. From the Notting Hill Carnival to New Year celebrations, Firework displays and International festivities the city comes alive. London is also home to hundreds of spectacular markets from the renowned Camden Market to the historic Spitalfields and the world famous Portobello road.

These are just a few suggestions on free activities to do on your London break. Do you have any ideas, what are the best free attractions in London?

While we may not all be able to jet of to the Seychelles at a days notice, like the newly wed Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, we do have the luxury of some of the finest beaches around. The annual Keep Britain Tidy awards saw 70 beaches in the UK claim the internationally recognised ‘Blue Flag’ with Cornwall having five of the cleanest beaches in England! As well as that 108 beaches received Quality Coast award with 32 of those winning both, meaning we have over 146 award winning beaches right on our doorstep – a perfect excuse to get outside and start discovering the UK’s Coast.

At this time of year when the weather is starting to get warmer there is no better place than relaxing by the beach where ever it is. If you choose a late hotel deal by the beach or a few days in a seaside resort you won’t be able to resist popping down to the sea front and squeezing in a few ice creams or enjoying a quick paddle. As well as that with so many beaches waving the blue flag proudly you are sure to have one only a few hours drive from where you are!

I love a trip to the sea side so I asked some of my good friends on Facebook which of our blue flag beaches they preferred and of course which does the best ice cream and fish and chips! Bridlington is looking like the one to beat so make sure you get your votes in.

Where is your favourite beach? Share your beach knowledge in the comments box below!

Shrek the Musical is one of the hottest new shows to hit the West End, since its opening last week it has already had rave reviews for the 4 stars of the show! Nigel Lindsay takes on the role of Shrek with Richard Blackwood as his sidekick Donkey. Amanda Holden is delighting preview audiences with her role as Princess Fiona and Nigel Harman completes this fantastic cast as the role of Lord Farquaad, the King with a height complex!

Fancy winning a pair of tickets to see the fantastic Shrek in London or 1 of 5 pairs of Shrek ears?! Just find us on Twitter @superbreak and RT our comp to be in with a chance.

1.       This competition is open to UK residents only and entrants must be 18 years of age or over. When contacted the prize winner must provide proof of age.

2.        Employees connected with this promotion from superbreak.com, any employees of third party prize suppliers and promotional agencies and their families are excluded from taking part in this prize draw.

3.        One winner will be randomly selected by an independent person from all the entries after the closing date (on 16^th May 2011). The winner will be notified by e-mail.

4.        Maximum of one entry per person. Bulk or third-party entries are not accepted.

5.        The decision of the judges is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

6.        The prize includes: Two tickets to see Shrek the musical at London’s Theatre Royal on Monday 23^rd May.

7.        The Prizes are as stated, non-negotiable, non-transferable and there is no cash alternative or different holiday option. The promoter reserves the right (a) to substitute alternative prizes of equivalent or greater value and (b) in exceptional circumstances to amend or foreclose the promotion without notice. Your statutory rights remain unaffected.

8.        If winners are unable to take the prizes, a redraw will take place.

9.        superbreak.com accepts no liability for the prize or for any loss or damage arising from its issue.

10.     Winners accept prize at own risk. Winners should obtain their own travel insurance and ensure they’re fit to travel.

11.     superbreak.com may wish to use winners’ names for editorial and publicity purposes on the superbreak.com website. It is a condition of entry to this prize draw that you agree to this use of your name. The Promoter’s privacy policy applies and can be found by clicking here.

12.     Winners’ names & city of residence may be obtained by sending a sae to: superbreak.com, Eboracum Way, York, YO31 7RE 28 days after the closing date. Please state the competition title. Please do not send entries to this address.

13.     The promoter of this competition is superbreak.com, Eboracum Way, York, YO31 7RE

14.     This promotion is governed by English law.

Brimming with a vibrant city culture and a rich heritage Liverpool is a great destination for a short break. From the infamous Cavern Club to the historic docks, the Beatles Story, Liverpool Philharmonic and the buzzing Liverpool ONE shopping complex the city is a hub of activity.

If you are planning on taking a Liverpool break during May then you may well see have the opportunity to see one of the city’s most unique festivals, the Light Night Liverpool event takes place on Friday 13^th May and is host to a hive of arts, culture and music. With many of the events and activities being free it’s the perfect time to see Liverpool in a new light.

From five in the evening to late through the night over 50 Liverpool venues will open their doors, from the Tate Gallery to the iconic Cathedrals there is something to for everyone to enjoy. The festival is also the launching date for Liverpool’s first international photography festival and the Liverpool International Carnival.

Why not hop on one of the guided tours and enjoy all the sights with an insight into the history that makes Liverpool what it is. With almost 100 events to choose from the Light Night Liverpool festival is an excellent chance to explore the city.

Will you be visiting Liverpool this May? Have you been to the Festival before, what were the best bits of the night?