For those who don’t want to check into a hotel, there is a budget-friendly alternative: the aparthotel. Long seen as the boring but functional alternative to traditional hotels for business travellers, stylish versions more akin to boutique boltholes have been popping up all over the country in recent years. They come with their own private kitchens, and sometimes even a lounge, which will provide couples and even families with much-needed space in which to relax. Unlike cottages or Airbnbs, there’s generally much better availability, flexibility and facilities, just like hotels. We’re talking everything from gyms and spas to bars and collaborative workspaces. So, if you’re someone who takes the phrase “a home away from home” seriously and are looking for the best of both worlds, we’ve found some of the best options to check in to around England. The best aparthotels in the UK are: Best aparthotel for a workation: Your Apartment Clifton Village Best aparthotel for gin-lovers: Kingsland Locke Best aparthotel for gym buffs: Native Manchester Best aparthotel for waterfront views: Staybridge Suites Best aparthotel for relaxation: Hiding Space Westgate Apartments Best spa aparthotel: Captain’s Club Hotel & Spa, Christchurch Best aparthotel for home cooking: Hyatt House Manchester Best aparthotel for city stays: STAY Camden Best aparthotel for a workation: Your Apartment Clifton Village Location: Clifton, Bristol This Your Apartment’s outpost is in the heart of leafy Clifton Village, where cute coffee shops and gourmet delis are just a stroll away. Each of the 34 studio apartments come with a double or king size bed, kitchenette, dining tables and chairs. Everything is contactless – you can check yourself in via your mobile phone. If you stay for a week or more, for a workation (there’s a co-working space in the building), for example, they’ll even give you a discount. Best aparthotel for gin-lovers: Kingsland Locke Location: Hackney, London Locke has a small empire of design-led aparthotels in London, including the Kingsland Locke in the heart of Dalston. Upstairs, there are 124 apartments, subtly attired in mossy green, each with a full-sized kitchen. But perhaps the best bits are found elsewhere in the building, where, aside from a gym and co-working space, you’ll find KRAFT Dalston, a gin distillery and microbrewery in one. Best aparthotel for gym buffs: Native Manchester Location: Picadilly, Manchester Just two minutes’ walk from Manchester Piccadilly train station, this collection of 166 smart apartments is housed in a warehouse that once stored bales of cotton imported from the US. There are seven different styles of room to choose from, including bijoux studios all the way up to a two-bed penthouse duplex. Every apartment has its own fully equipped kitchen, lounge space and king-size beds. There’s plenty to keep you busy in the building, including a restaurant, cinema and even a studio offering fitness classes. Best aparthotel for waterfront views: Staybridge Suites Liverpool Location: Liverpool A short walk from Tate Liverpool is IHG’s pet-friendly Staybridge Suites. You have the option of two different sized apartments – a smaller studio suite or a one-bedroom suite with a lounge spacious enough for a sofa bed for guests. If you’re in one of the 132 guest suites that offer stunning views of the Royal Albert Dock, you may well be tempted to stay in and enjoy the view. Otherwise, the city’s waterfront bar scene is ready to be soaked up. Oh, and they’ll treat you to breakfast the morning after. Best aparthotel for relaxation: Hiding Space Westgate Apartments Location: Bath Hiding Space has a few boutique-style aparthotels in Bath but the most centrally located is Westgate Apartments, just a few paces from the city’s celebrated Thermae Spa. While perfect for a couple, you also have the option of adding sofa beds to the airy, Scandi-inspired living rooms for bigger groups. There’s no on-site gym or restaurant here, but with the city’s gorgeous, honeyed architecture and vibrant food scene right on the doorstep, you’re unlikely to spend much time indoors. Best spa aparthotel: Captain’s Club Hotel & Spa Location: Christchurch, Dorset Perched on the edge of the River Stour in Christchurch is the Captain’s Club Hotel & Spa, which has a set of 12 self-catering apartments designed for groups. It’s all about the views here – the floor-to-ceiling windows in the lounge area look out over the river and across to the Hengistbury Head nature reserve. To welcome you to Dorset, a hamper of local treats, including a bottle of the award-winning sparkling wine from nearby English Oak vineyard, awaits. Best aparthotel for home cooking: Hyatt House Manchester Location: Manchester Hyatt House Manchester’s 116 studios and one-bedroom suites sit snugly between the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University. The Laureate restaurant and The Graduate bar pay homage to its location but it’s the 18th-floor lounge, with high-flying views of the city, that’s the real star here. Breakfast is included – right now you can order ingredients to cook in your own kitchen or get it ready-made… just like room service. Best aparthotel for city stays: Stay Camden Location: Camden, London Stay Camden is made for workations – downstairs is hip co-working space LABS Collective, while, upstairs, you’ll find 169 apartments ranging from an airy one-bed to a spacious three-bed. Regardless of size, each of the Scandi-inspired apartments offers a fully-kitted kitchen and lounge area as well as a balcony to enjoy the London skyline. Pootle along the towpaths of Regent’s Canal to access the bars and restaurants on Camden High Street. Price: Rates from £270 Book now Read more of our hotel reviews: The best dog-friendly hotels The best affordable London hotels The best cosy UK hotels Read more about UK travel: Explore the Cotswolds, car-free The UK’s best holiday destinations for families Lake District guide: Where to eat, walk and stay Read More The best spa hotels in the UK 2023: Where to go for a relaxing staycation Cheap UK holidays 2023: 10 destinations for a budget staycation World’s best hotels with swimming pools 2023: Where to stay for healing swims, soaks and wildlife spotting The UK’s 10 best quirky hotels 2023: From lighthouses to train stations, make your next stay a unique one Best UK hotels 2023: Where to stay for a luxury or affordable break The best Scotland road trips to travel in your lifetime

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Gabourey Sidibe made fans giggle after she shared a fashion blunder involving “boob tape” on her Instagram. The Precious star, 40, posted a mirror selfie showing herself wearing a bright green strappy dress with a plunging neckline. Peeking out from under the dress, however, was what appeared to be a mess of tape on both breasts. “Boob tape” is a skin-friendly tape that can be used to lift and shape breasts under clothing without needing to wear a bra. However, it can take some practice to get the taping right – as Sidibe demonstrated. She wrote in her post caption: “How y’all be doing Boob Tape? I might need to take a class.” Fans thought Sidibe’s wardrobe malfunction was relatable and hilarious, with many sharing their own troubles with boob tape. “I can’t figure that s*** out either girl,” one person wrote, while another appeared relieved: “All that tape, girl I thought you had surgery!” Another commenter said: “Can the class be on Zoom? I need to be in on the number.” Someone else added: “I just screamed, because me too.” Sidibe’s stylist Kelly Augustine appeared to despair at the American Horror Story star’s attempts to fix her own tape and commented: “Now Gabby [cry-laugh emoji] Please just call me next time.” In a follow-up post on her Instagram Stories, Sidibe posted another mirror selfie in the same dress but appeared much happier this time, with nothing showing from under her garment. “I figured out the t**ty tape!” she wrote on the post, which showed her sticking her tongue out and flashing the peace sign with her hand. Sidibe has previously spoken out about facing size discrimination from major fashion labels. Speaking at the Curvy Con during New York Fashion Week in 2018, she said she was forced to buy a dress from plus-size fashion retailer Torrid because no designers offered to dress her for her first major red carpet appearance at Cannes. She told Teen Vogue that she still faces such discrimination and designers often won’t dress her because she’s “too fat”. “Even though we are moving towards more visibility for plus-size people, there is a lot [of] pushback. So it’s important to keep fighting [and] to keep being visible until the conversation changes and [it] is no longer about our bodies because I’m not my body. I’m a whole person,” Sidibe told the magazine. Last December, Sidibe revealed that she secretly got married to her husband Brandon Frankel in 2021. She announced her engagement in November 2020. In an appearance on Live with Kelly and Ryan, she was asked about her wedding plans. Sidibe answered: “So, the thing about weddings is I don’t like them. Here’s an example of how much I don’t like weddings. I’m actually married. We got married over a year ago.” Sidibe said she and Frankel got “married at the kitchen table” in a very small ceremony that involved just the two of them. When she announced their engagement, the Empire star wrote: “Every moment with him is a joy. He is the partner I thought I was too independent to need. I’ve learned so much about myself through him and I feel grateful and excited to learn more about the entire world with him by my side.” Read More How dogs became my greatest adversary on the dating scene Influencers called out for visiting and promoting Shein’s factory in China Paralympian Ellie Simmonds reveals she was adopted as she reconnects with birth mother Influencers called out for visiting and promoting Shein’s factory in China Outfit choices for Barbie cast photo sparks hilarious reactions Princess Diana’s ‘black sheep’ jumper predicted to sell at auction for up to £70,000

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Almost 1.5 million people aged 18 and under were referred for mental health support in 2022, according to a youth mental health charity. According to YoungMinds’ analysis of data from NHS Digital, there were 1,425,193 referrals last year, a rise of 76% since 2019. The charity also said it is the second consecutive year that referrals have topped one million. Laura Bunt, chief executive of YoungMinds, said: “Every day without action is another day thousands of young people are without the mental health support they need. Behind every number is a young person facing impossible challenges.” In April 2022, the Government made a call for evidence for a new 10-year mental health plan. Any new plan for the NHS workforce needs to include significant measures to increase the numbers of mental health specialists we have working in children and young people's mental health services Tom Madders, YoungMinds As part of the call, 13,887 people under the age of 25 completed a YoungMinds survey and the answers were shared anonymously with the Government. Ms Blunt said those who responded made it “loud and clear what change was needed”. However, the plan was shelved in favour of the Major Conditions Strategy, which grouped mental illness together with the likes of cancer and chronic respiratory diseases. The call for evidence for the new strategy ends on Tuesday. In response, YoungMinds and a group of young people will take two vans to Westminster displaying messages from some of the people who responded to the initial call over the 10-year mental health plan. Ms Blunt added: “Twelve months on, as the situation worsens, we are still waiting. The Government had an opportunity to hear from young people and take action that could transform the system, but all we’ve seen is delay. “The Government must listen to young people and commit to action that drives down numbers of young people needing support, prioritises early intervention, and properly funds mental health services.” Tom Madders, director of communications and campaigns at YoungMinds, said: “This explosion in referral numbers has led to wait times being as long as two years in parts of the country. “One of the biggest barriers for getting wait times down is the lack of staff and young people are paying the price for a total absence of workforce planning over the past few years.” On Sunday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the NHS Workforce Plan, a 15-year blueprint outlining how the NHS will retain and recruit staff, will be published this week. Mr Madders added: “Any new plan for the NHS workforce needs to include significant measures to increase the numbers of mental health specialists we have working in children and young people’s mental health services.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Holiday hygiene horrors: Summer health risks to avoid, from flying to hotels Pretty garden plants you didn’t know you could eat Group B Strep: 8 things every parent should know