AMAZON has slashed prices on its devices hours ahead of Prime Day, with one tablet stealing the limelight.
The Fire 7 tablet has been cut from £64.99 to a bargain price of £29.99, and it’s flying off the shelves.
Amazon Fire 7 tablet, £29.99 (was £64.99)
The 7-inch tablet is currently gracing the top of Amazon’s Movers & Shakers list of best-selling devices.
In the past 24 hours, sales have rocketed by a staggering 1,140% since the asking price took a nose-dive.
That’s unsurprising, given the popular tablet is currently over half price, at just shy of £30 quid.
The deal comes hours ahead of Amazon’s second Prime Day, set to officially kick off at midnight and running for 48 hours from October 8-9.
Of course, Amazon often likes to treat its shoppers to an early wave of deals, and this is one of many on its popular range of devices.
The entire range of Fire tablets is on sale this week, so you’re spoilt for choice.
Our Deputy eCommerce Editor, Matt Breen, also reported on a 48% price cut on the premium Fire Max 11 tablet with ‘superb battery life’.
But the real bargain comes on the cheap and cheerful Fire 7 tablet, reduced to £29.99.
There’s also been a wave of ideas on Fire streaming sticks, Echo speakers, and Ring doorbells in the mix.
Typically these deals are exclusive for Prime members, but for the time being, the deals are open to all shoppers, but that can quickly change.
The budget tablet is great for kids or anyone who just wants a cheap tablet to access the internet or streaming platforms.
Its 7-inch display means you can slip it into your bag or coat pocket, using it as an e-reader that’s capable of doing that bit more.
There’s no arguing with that price tag, though, at just £29.99, it’s well worth snapping up.
This option comes with 16GB of storage, which is enough for your little ones or light entertainment use.
But you can bump that up to 32GB for an extra £10 if you plan on downloading a lot of content or games.
Amazon Prime Day kicks off tomorrow (8th-9th October), but there's already some early deals to check out. Here's our favourites:
*If you click on a link in this boxout we will earn affiliate revenue
We’ll be keeping a close eye out for some of the best deals so remember to check back to snag these deals
We’ve rounded up more great offers here:
‘My wife loves this tablet, such a bargain too,’ writes one shopper, who described the Fire 7 as a ‘brilliant little tablet.’
‘I use it for watching YouTube videos and Facebook in the wee small hours. The sound and picture quality are excellent,’ added another.
‘I use a full-size PC in the daytime but I take my little Fire 7 to bed with me,’ they continued.
A third concluded: ‘It’s brilliant, I can read my books and watch downloads of films and documentaries when flying.’
With the sale now hours away, you’ll find discounts on Fire TVs, streaming sticks, Kindles and other gadgets on our Amazon device deals page.
When the 48-hour sale kicks off next week, we’ll have all the finest bargains we find listed on our best Prime Day deals page.
Amazon Fire 7 tablet, £29.99 (was £64.99)
Discover more top deals and savings at your favourite tech retailers by heading to Sun Vouchers. Sun Vouchers is the one-stop shop where you can find hundreds of discount codes for top chains including Currys, Argos, AliExpress, Dyson and more.
Stuck between buying a tablet or an e-reader? Read our Amazon Fire tablet vs Kindle explainer.
Head to our shopping tech section for more tech deals and discounts.
CHRISTMAS is getting closer and some of the UK’s biggest attractions are dusting off their baubles and hanging up the festive lights in preparation.
If you fancy treating the kids to some extra fun in the run up to Christmas, theme parks across the country will soon start running festive entertainment alongside their most popular rides.
Twinkling lights and a giant Duplo Christmas tree are set to transform Legoland Windsor later this year.
From November 23, 2024, guests will enjoy Father Christmas’s Magical Sleigh as it travels from Heartlake City to Pirate Shores.
After making its debut in 2022, Ollie’s Christmas Chaos show is back for another year and it promises the same level of mischief.
A selection of 25 rides will also be open to the public, and there will also be an opportunity to visit the big man himself.
Christmas tickets cost £34pp as well as an additional £25 per child to see Father Christmas inside Santa’s Grotto.
WHEN it comes to the Christmas build-up, there’s only one place to be.
Legoland Windsor promises to get budding builders of all ages into the festive spirit after transforming the brilliant brick paradise into a winter wonderland.
And it didn’t take long for my lad and his mate to be bowled over by the Christmas delights on offer. On entering the park we were met by a towering 33ft Duplo tree, cleverly adorned with intricately built baubles and a huge star.
While the boys stood in wonder, I used the Legoland app to plan our day – a useful tool to avoid any pesky queues. As we headed to the Driving School – a family fave – sleigh bells were suddenly heard ringing in the distance.
This was very soon followed by squeals of delight ringing in my ears as the boys whooped and waved at Santa whizzing past on his sleigh – made of Lego, obvs.
But now it was time for the main event. A meeting with a gruffly-voiced fellow with a bit of a belly and scraggly beard. No, not Daddy, but the main man himself – Father Christmas.
If you really want to spoil the kids then a visit to see Santa in his log cabin costs a little extra but is worth every penny when you see the smiles that result.
The boys, led by Mr C’s little helpers, were buzzing as they weaved through a maze of snowy Lego trees right up to Mr Claus’s ho-ho-home. After a nervous wait, his door opened and the kids were led in, their jaws dragging on the floor behind them.
On selected dates from November 29 until January 5, 2025, Alton Towers will also be on the receiving end of some festive magic.
The theme park’s Magical Days Out have returned for another year, and they’re set to feature a new live show called Santa’s Toy Workshop.
Park-goers will watch as a team of hard-working elves prepares for Christmas Day, with Santa even making an appearance.
Also new for 2024 is the Reindeer Games, where visitors to Alton Towers must help find a missing reindeer.
Tickets to the Magical Days Out start from £18 per person and include entry to CBeebies Land and Mutiny Bay.
Santa Sleepovers are also back for another year, with the festive staycation including a visit to Santa’s grotto, Christmas activities and entertainment, a festive meal and an overnight stay.
The stay also includes complimentary breakfast, entry to the Caribbean-themed waterpark and crazy golf.
Two new pantomime shows have been added for 2024, including a Jack and the Beanstalk Panto and a festive courtyard show featuring Santa.
The Christmas-themed staycations are available from £90pp this November and December.
During the Santa’s Sleepover days, not all of the standard theme park rides are available, but there are plenty of other activities to keep the little ones busy.
For instance, make sure to schedule time for the included visit to Santa’s Grotto, where the kids will be able to speak to the big man himself.
On selected dates from November 23 until December 31, Drayton Manor will also play host to a range of festive attractions.
Christmas at Drayton Manor will feature decorations, Santa’s grotto and access to 25 family-friendly rides and attractions in Thomas Land too.
In Thomas Land, a Festive Light Train, which is new for 2024, will take passengers on a journey where they’ll enjoy a magical Christmas tale with Sir Topham Hatt.
The journey will end at Rusty and Dusty’s Hot Chocolate Factory, which is also new for 2024.
Park-goers will learn the secrets behind the art of hot chocolate making as they warm their little hands on a cup of sweet cocoa topped with marshmallows – other treats are also set to await.
Santa’s Grotto experience will return for another year where children will be provided with entertainment as well as the chance to meet Father Christmas who will give them a gift.
An accessible Christmas Grotto that’s been specially designed for kids who need more time or a calmer setting will also feature in this year’s line-up.
Park entry starts from £19pp, with tickets that include festive additions like a visit to Santa’s Grotto, starting from £32pp.
The Winter‘s Tail is back for another year and, from November 23 to December 31, guests can visit Father Christmas and be given access to a top-secret toy workshop.
A new Christmas village has been installed for 2024 complete with a cosy grotto where guests can meet Father Christmas.
Park-goers can also explore the Enchanted Hollow where Santa’s Elves have set up their Toy Workshops in the underground town.
Guests can also visit selected theme park rides, and a zoo with its very own reindeer.
Tickets for the Winter’s Tail event start from £32pp.
On selected dates from December 6 until December 23, Paultons Park will also be getting into the festive spirit.
The park will be filled with magical illuminations, and a selection of rides and attractions will be open for the festive period too.
Guests will get the opportunity to meet their favourite Christmas characters like Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Reindeer and Billy and Belinda Elves.
Theatre shows have also returned for another year, with Santa’s Christmas Wish Show set to feature singing, dancing, special effects and Christmas characters.
Christmas tickets cost £38.75 each for those over 1m tall.
THOUSANDS of Christmas lights sparkle as we walk up to the Alton Towers Hotel.
I’ve arrived for a Santa’s Sleepover with my two and four-year-old children and it already feels like we are in a winter wonderland.
Our moon voyage-themed room is spacious with a double bed and bunk beds tucked in their own cove.
It’s the perfect set-up for families and my four-year-old boy is especially excited to see an Xbox.
We head to the bar where a Christmas helper draws all the kids into fun and games so that Mummy can get into the festive spirit with a tipple.
The atrium is decorated with gorgeous garlands and a huge tree.
Then it’s time for dinner at the Secret Garden – a roast dinner buffet with all the trimmings, plus kids’ specials.
The food gets the thumbs-up from my two fussy eaters.
We hotfoot it to the Robin Hood panto.
Filled with laughs, singing and dancing, the show really impressed me.
In the morning, we head to Mistletoe Lane where we’re booked in to meet Father Christmas.
The little ones are excited to head to the grotto and knock at the big red door, answered by one of Santa’s elves.
There’s two chances for photos before we meet the big man himself.
Miraculously, my kids have made it on to the nice list and are overjoyed to get an Alton Towers teddy to take home.
We’ve made it to lunchtime and most of the rides are working – we clamber aboard Postman Pat Parcel Post and the In The Night Garden boat rides.
Queue times are short and we manage to pack in most of the attractions.
Tickets to LaplandUK went on sale earlier this year – and they may already be sold out.
And a much-loved Christmas steam train is set to make a return to the UK this year where passengers can meet Santa.
THE cast of a smash-hit noughties film are coming back together for a threequel – two decades on.
This franchise already has two beloved films under its belt and is set to add another.
Taking to Instagram, Anne Hathaway revealed there will be a third Princess Diaries movie.
In a short video, the Academy Award winner counted to three alongside clips of her younger self and co-star Dame Julie Andrews, in character, both saying “Shut up!”
Anne captioned her post: “Miracles happen. Back to Genovia with @adeleblim @disney@somewherepictures. The fairytale continues.”
Meanwhile, Crazy Rich Asians co-writer Adele Lim has signed up to direct the movie.
In both the original film and its 2004 sequel, Anne played Mia Thermopolis, Princess of Genovia, a fictional kingdom.
Mia is a shy American teenager who learns that she is heir to a Genovia’s throne.
Fellow Academy Award winner Dame Julie Andrews, 89, took on the role of Clarisse Renaldi, Mia’s grandmother and Queen regent.
Other cast members across both movies included Heather Matarazzo, Mandy Moore, Héctor Elizondo, Robert Schwartzman, Erik von Detten and Chris Pine.
One excited fan penned: “I’m seated. Quite frankly I’ve never been more sat!!!”
Another commented: “I’m happy! My favorite series of movies that I don’t wish to stop!”
While a third penned: “As a fan of the books and movies when I was a teenager, I so love love love you as Princess Mia.
“I can’t imagine anyone portraying her other than you.
“My teenage self is so happy, I can’t wait for Princess Diaries 3!!!!
“And also hoping Robert Schwartzman comes back!!!!”
While a fourth remarked: “I’ve literally been checking every year to see if there will be a third one! I can’t wait!!!”
A fifth wrote: “Please tell me the great Julie Andrews is returning as the Queen mother too!!!”
Yet another chimed in: “Anne I just rewatched both of these… somehow I knew…”
The Princess Diaries is available to watch on Disney+.
THE ‘most sought after ever’ Lotus Esprit is on sale with a staggering price tag.
With a distinctive 80s interior and just 53k miles on the clock, the motor is one of just 13 left in the country.
The car features pop-up headlights, metallic blue paint emboldened with red and silver ‘go faster’ stripes and the Essex Esprit insignia.
It is on the market for £135,000 – but there’s good reason for the eye-watering cost.
The Essex Commemorative edition of the Lotus Esprit was publicly launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1980 in honour of the Turbo Esprit in collaboration with Essex Petroleum who were the main Formula One sponsor at the time.
The car was unveiled at a party hosted by Essex in London’s Royal Albert Hall in February 1980.
Essex founder David Thieme, who made many millions trading oil, allegedly spent most of the budget for the 1980 season on lavish car launches and events, according to PistonHeads.
He was later arrested, four races into the following season on apparent fraud charges, with the Essex corporation dissolving soon after.
According to Lotus Cars this meant the planned 100 commemorative cars were never achieved.
Only 34 production Essex commemorative cars were recorded, 23 for the domestic UK market and 11 for the export market.
According to records there are only 13 Essex cars left in the UK and this car has 53K miles.
The listing is held by PistonHeads with the owner commenting on the listing.
“I have owned this car for nine years in which time it has undergone a full restoration with a full engine rebuild, gearbox cleaned and checked by PNM Engineering and a full mechanical overhaul,” reads the listing.
“Everything on the car has been refurbished or replaced.
“The restoration took around seven years to complete.
“It comes with a large file full of receipts which amount to over £26,000.
“The original tool kit and jack are supplied with the car as is an original Lotus soft car cover.
“Also included is a certificate of provenance and after sales letter from Lotus Cars.
“The body of the car was fully stripped and painted to a very high standard and the car was fully retrimmed also to a very high standard.
“Thousands of man hours have gone into this restoration and the outcome is stunning.
“This Essex Esprit has got to be one of the best examples in the UK.”
