Travel news live: domestic holidays get the go-ahead

Here’s a handy digest of everything you need to know about what travel rules are changing today: what you can do, where you can go and with whom.

London’s River Bus service, Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, will re-introduce its RB6 and RB2 services from 12 April 2021 to help Londoners safely travel through the capital. Following the successful return to service of the operator’s RB1 service on 29 March, the additional routes will be re-introduced to cater for the anticipated greater demand, in line with the further easing of lockdown restrictions.

The RB6 route is set to resume services between Putney and Canary Wharf piers on weekdays during peak commuter times, with the RB2 service also returning for passengers travelling between Battersea Power Station and Bankside piers. Some sailings for both RB6 and RB2 will start/finish as far east as North Greenwich, enhancing services for the East Zone.

Families flocked to Colchester Zoo as it reopened to the public as part of England’s latest easing of lockdown restrictions.

Linda English, 69, said she was “thrilled to bits” to visit the Essex attraction as an early birthday present for her five-year-old granddaughter Darcie Halls, who turns six later this month.

“I think people are glad to be out in the sunshine, glad to go somewhere different,” said Mrs English, from Hertfordshire.

“As long as you’re sensible and wear your masks where you’re supposed to that’s the main thing.”

Airbnb has revealed the top 10 trending destinations for Brits searching for holidays this summer.

Saint Clears in Wales has seen the biggest jump in popularity. The historic Welsh town, situated on the River Taf, has seen the biggest increase in searches by Brits this summer.

Here’s the top 10 trending destinations:

1. Saint Clears, Carmarthenshire
2. Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire
3. Clovelly, Devon
4. Bosham, Sussex
5. Primrose Valley, Yorkshire
6. Mullion, Cornwall
7. Cawsand, Cornwall
8. Noss Mayo, Devon
9. Saunton, Devon
10. East Wittering, Sussex

Bus users in west and southwest London, and parts of Surrey, could be hit by a strike by bus drivers working for London United on Thursday.

As the number of commuters and leisure passengers increases following the easing of lockdown measures, Transport for London is warning: “Bus strikes are planned on Thursday 15 April.

“If they go ahead, they are likely to affect bus services across west and southwest London and parts of Surrey.

“These areas are most affected by the strikes: White City/Shepherds Bush; Acton; Heathrow; Hounslow; Kingston; Richmond; Surbiton; Wimbledon; Sutton.”

Separately, more than 4,000 bus drivers working for Metroline in London have voted for strike action over the controversial “remote sign-on” plan – whereby drivers do not report to a depot but meet their bus at an alternative location, such as a bus stop.

The Unite union says: “It forces drivers to start work away from the depot, reducing costs and boosting the company’s profits.

“The policy raises concerns over lack of toilets and canteens; increased driving hours; and waiting for the bus in unpredictable weather.”

While UK resort locations are witnessing an unprecedented boom in summer bookings, data from hotel technology provider Avvio reveals that bookings at major city hotels are over 80 per cent down from a couple of years ago.

Avvio’s Chief Commercial Officer, Michael De Jongh, says: “There’s virtually no international tourism in the UK right now and that’s hitting city hotels hard. On the whole people really don’t want to spend their summer staycation in a UK city, which means the current boom is almost exclusively around resort locations.”

However, Avvio is forecasting a stronger recovery for city hotels later in the summer. “In time, big hospitality events will be commonplace once again. There’ll be major sporting events, conferences and concerts, resulting in significant bookings for city hotels. Many of them have world-class restaurants as well, which will also give them much-needed revenue when people return to city centres to work and socialise. Until then, if they’re to survive, many of them will have to think of some really creative ways to attract guests,” De Jongh says.

I have arrived! After a swift 1hr 10m train from London Paddington, I pulled into Kemble station to spend the next few days living my best Cotswolds life. My destination: Lower Mill Estate, a sprawling collection of lakeside luxury holiday homes. And I’m not the only one – despite the morning’s snow, the sound of children’s laughter drifts down from the playground, I can hear the faint punk-punk of tennis balls from the onsite court, and families are already gathering for an al fresco lunch at the main restaurant, for all the world as if it were not a measly 7 degrees.

I felt a little apprehensive this morning preparing for my first overnight stay in seven months – call me institutionalised – but now that I’m here, surrounded by lush greenery and guests delightedly making the absolute most of the restrictions easing, I find myself remembering just what a joy travel is. Even when it is bloody freezing.

Time to tuck into a charred mackerel and purple sprouting broccoli salad and make-believe it’s at least 10 degrees warmer…

The National Rail Enquiries website came under fire this weekend after switching to black “as a mark of respect” for the Duke of Edinburgh, who died on Friday.

The decision was met with anger and derision by rail users.

Morgan Hay tweeted: “I thought it was just a joke on Twitter at first, but no: National Rail Enquiries really have greyscaled their website in mourning.

“Hope no visually impaired people need to catch a train this week!”