2021 has undoubtedly been the year of staycations.
But if you're looking for something a little different though, you can't get much better than this world-first hotel.
While ever-changing travel restrictions over the past 18 months have meant that many UK holidaymakers have chosen to stay in country cottages, seaside huts, wooden chalets, or even glamping yurts to escape from reality, others are looking for a more unique experience.
Luckily, flower brand Interflora - in partnership with luxury holiday hideaway business Kip & Nook - has just launched a brand new sunflower hotel, which gives guests the chance to stay in a room that's decorated with bright yellow summer blooms in the heart of the North Yorkshire countryside.
With a sunflower-themed interior and more than 1,000 striking sunflower heads covering the cabin from top to bottom, this is the ultimate relaxing getaway for Brits looking for an unusual stay.
More than 1,000 striking sunflower heads cover the North Yorkshire cabin hotel from top to bottom / Credit: Interflora UK & Ireland
Inside the cabin, the open plan living space boasts a log burning hot tub, a fully-fitted kitchen, a cosy lounge area, and a large bedroom complete with a king-size bed that's perfectly positioned for late-night star gazing, followed by a relaxing waterfall shower in the morning.
And tranquility is guaranteed here too, as not only are there the endless fields of the Yorkshire countryside all around, but there's also no phone signal either.
Plus, as a part of the experience, guests will get to spend an hour and a half with one of Interflora’s artisan florists - creating their very own floral design to take home with them at the end of their stay.
Fancy staying at the Sunflower Hotel then? Well, there is a catch - you'll have to win it.
Announcing the competition prize for two lucky people over on Instagram, Interflora UK & Ireland said: "2021 is the year of the staycation, and we’re offering one lucky pair the chance to spend a weekend immersed in Britain’s beautiful countryside at the world’s first sunflower-themed hotel.
"You’ll also get a one on one flower workshop with one of our lovely artisan florists."
To enter the competition and be in with a chance of winning a staycation experience like no other, all you'll need to do is head on over to Interflora's Instagram or Facebook, like the post and tag the person you’d like to get away with.
The competition ends just before midnight on 23 August, so you've still got plenty of time to get your entries in.
Featured Image - Interflora UK & Ireland
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Leeds farm welcomes five calves from one of the UK’s rarest cattle breeds
One of the rarest cattle breeds in the UK has had calves at Temple Newsam’s farm.
We think this might be the cutest story we've written about all year.
Categorised as ‘priority’ by the Rare Breed Survival Trust (RBST), Vaynol cows originate from North Wales and were first established in the late 19th Century.
The herd over at Temple Newsam stems directly from that first herd, having lived there since the 1980’s.
Images: Leeds City Council
And now, they've welcomed five new calves - and the beautiful new arrivals are just five of 150 animals in the UK.
Vaynols can now be found in five locations in the UK, with Temple Newsam’s Home Farm currently home to one bull, 14 breeding cows, five heifers these amazing new calves.
Richard Aldis, farm manager at Temple Newsam, said: “We’re so thrilled to have welcomed these little ones to the farm.
“The team here works hard to protect these rare breeds that the farm is home to and it’s always wonderful when we can successfully grow the herd. The calves are settling in well and we’re just thinking about names for them.”
Councillor James Gibson, Leeds City Council’s executive member for environment, said: “It’s wonderful to hear the news about these rare little calves being born, it is truly a testament to the important work that is done by the team at Temple Newsam’s Home Farm in preserving these breeds for future generations.
“There is so much for visitors to enjoy at the estate. Alongside the farm and its wonderful animals, people can explore the magnificent Temple Newsam House, enjoy the new bike park, and visit the recently opened play barn. It really is a fantastic day out for the whole family.”
Government announces all national museums across the UK will remain FREE for everyone to visit
Emily Sergeant
Dozens of national museums across the UK are set to remain free for everyone to visit, it has been confirmed.
Funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the 14 national museums of the UK are all located in England – including the Royal Armouries in Leeds – and free entry to was first introduced all the way back in 2001, with millions of visitors having benefitted since.
National museums are said to add more than £1 billion a year to the economy, and bring in visitors from all over the world.
In fact, seven of the UK’s 10 most visited museums are national museums, and 7.1 million people visited the Natural History Museum and 6.4 million visited the British Museum in 2025 alone.
Earlier this year though, the Government committed to working with local leaders and the museum and tourism sectors to explore whether charging overseas visitors could help museums’ finances.
But following this, it’s now believed that charging could deter visitors, and that the impacts and benefits would ‘not be felt equally’ across the sector.
The Government has announced that all national museums in the UK will remain free for everyone to visit / Credit: Science Museum Group
Instead, the free entry will be funded by the £1.5 billion Arts Everywhere Fund – which is providing £760 million for museums – while £600 million of infrastructure funding is supporting national museums and DCMS-sponsored cultural organisations.
The latter funding will be used to address critical maintenance and works to estates, and enable institutions to deliver on their commitments to share collections with visitors from around the world.
A further £160 million is coming from The Museum Estates and Development Fund to help museums tackle maintenance backlogs.
On top of that, the Government will work with Arts Council to develop a long-term strategic plan for the future of museums.
Emily Sergeant -
17th August 2021 
