Asking pharmacists to relieve some of the pressure on GPs sounds like a practical solution, but as Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, says: ‘The unfortunate reality is that both professions are facing crises.’

A perfect storm of funding difficulties, staff shortages and manufacturing issues is impacting pharmacies, and as a result how easy it is to access the medication or advice you need when you need it. 

Pharmacy struggles impact ease of getting medication

Pharmacies pay upfront to order medicines and are later reimbursed by the NHS. However, what the NHS pays - based on its list of approved drug prices - doesn't always match the cost, leaving pharmacies operating at a loss.

Historically, pharmacies ordered medication at the start of the month, but cashflow difficulties mean they're increasingly only ordering on request, meaning you have to wait longer to get your prescription.

Rachel, 26, from Norfolk, has consistently been unable to get her ADHD medication. She explains: 'For the past year, there's not been more than two consecutive months when I've been able to order and pick up my entire prescription in one go.’

Rachel describes her medication as ‘life-changing’, and tells us she experienced severe withdrawal symptoms that left her bed-bound during a three-week spell with no medication. Now she has to visit a bigger pharmacy 25 minutes away from where she lives.

Searching for somewhere that stocks her prescription consumes much of Rachel's mental energy. ‘It’s your whole day, every day until you can get your half dose bottle,' she says. 'And then it starts all over again the next month.’

Pharmacy closures

Getting hold of your medication, or using your pharmacist to get ad-hoc advice on common health issues, relies on you having reliable options nearby.

But for some this is increasingly not the case. When we looked at data from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to find out how many pharmacies are closing down, we found that across the four nations, 2,602 pharmacies had closed between July 2022 and September 2024.* 

Though the vast majority of them – 1,812 pharmacies – had been taken over, this still means 790 pharmacies permanently shut down in just over two years.

A lot of the pharmacies closing their doors were big chains. Lloyds Pharmacy closed 1,243 branches, while Boots closed 398.

Mass pharmacy closures place even more pressure on the rest, sometimes resulting in long queues and businesses operating at a greater loss.

Lindsey Fairbrother, a pharmacy owner in Derbyshire, told us, 'It’s a nightmare when pharmacies closes down. The next pharmacy takes on the burden of all the prescriptions and is then dispensing at a loss. It makes the finances of the remaining pharmacies even more fragile.'

Longer queues, erratic hours and fewer free services

Funding pressures are leading to increasingly tough choices, says Nick Kaye, chair of the NPA and owner of two pharmacies in Cornwall. 

‘Our members are reducing opening hours and reducing staffing. People are also waiting longer for their medication. But, if we don’t do that, there will be no pharmacy at all.’

Beyond stores being regularly closed on evenings and at the weekend, Which? members told us that they had encountered seemingly erratic closures. 

Colin, 80, from Somerset, struggled to get his epilepsy medication on several occasions, often due to lack of stock, with staff asking him to come back later. Sometimes he’d return to find the pharmacy closed, despite being within the stated opening hours.

Colin’s not the only person to have experienced this. There were more than 13,000 ‘temporary closures’ reported in 2023 (where a pharmacy closes during its usual operating hours). This is usually due to having no pharmacist on site, in which case medicines can’t legally be dispensed for safety reasons. 

Staffing shortages mean the only times many people can visit the pharmacy – at lunch and after work – are the times it’s closed.

‘I can’t do without my meds,’ says Colin, ‘so after a couple of months went by and they didn’t have them again, I thought I can’t go on like this.’ He now visits a pharmacy in a neighbouring town that he’s found to be more reliable.

Some pharmacies have also started to charge extra for helpful services that used to be free, such as home delivery. 

Pharmacist Lindsey Fairbrother told us: 'As a healthcare professional it’s really uncomfortable asking people for money – I’ve not had to do that before. But because we don’t get paid properly, we can’t carry on doing stuff for free.’

Additional funding from the Pharmacy First scheme has been warmly received, with 95% of pharmacies signing up. However, Nick Kaye describes the service as the ‘perfect icing on a crumbling cake.'

New funding agreed for pharmacies in 2025

The new funding agreement includes a 15% increase in the amount pharmacies are paid per prescription – from £1.27 to £1.46 – as well as the continuation of additional funding for Pharmacy First.

Pharmacists in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have reached settlements, however pharmacists in England geared themselves up for potential strike action at the start of April. The National Pharmacy Association is no longer recommending collective action to its members.

What can pharmacies prescribe?

Pharmacy First enables pharmacists to prescribe medicine for seven common conditions, without you needing to see a GP or make an appointment.

Pharmacy First is NHS-funded, so prescriptions cost £9.90 unless you're exempt from paying for NHS prescriptions.

We've listed the seven illnesses here, along with the age range of those who can be treated.

How to get the medicine you need

Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all advice that will put an end to your prescription problems, but your pharmacist or GP should be able to help you if you're having difficulties and there are options:

'A specialist insurer may be able to help'

Several members have contacted us about Nationwide switching their insurer and this resulting in them no longer being covered. 

Another issue that has been raised is that policyholders taking trips longer than the 31-day maximum must now pay an additional premium for the whole duration of the trip to be covered, rather than just paying for the extra days. 

Furthermore, the monthly price of the account rose from £13 to £18 a month in December. 

Even so, this understandably will provide little comfort to you. You used our online guidance to identify alternative providers, but with a considerably higher premium. 

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How has stamp duty changed? 

As a result, many first-time buyers now face higher bills. For the average first-time buyer, a home costs £329,952, according to the latest Land Registry data, which would result in a stamp duty charge of £1,497. 

However, in much of the South of England and London, buyers face much higher bills. For example, in Cambridge the average first-time buyer now faces a stamp duty bill of £6,517, compared to just £267 previously, according to Land Registry data. And in Guildford, buyers who would have paid nothing now face an average bill of £4,769.

Existing homeowners are also impacted, with the threshold at which stamp duty becomes payable halved from £250,000 to £125,000. Standard rates apply: 2% is charged on the portion between £125,001 and £250,000, and 5% between £250,001 and £925,000.

4 ways to save money on moving home

1. Haggle on the asking price

The latest figures from Zoopla show that buyer demand is 1% higher than a year ago, while the number of homes for sale has risen by 12% over the same period. This suggests that buyers are in a stronger position to negotiate and potentially haggle prices down. 

Of course, this is mostly beneficial to first-time buyers, who aren't relying on a sale to fund their purchase.

In the first three months of 2025, estate agent Hamptons found that the average first-time buyer secured a median discount of £2,000. If buyers today can achieve a similar saving, it could help offset some of the additional stamp duty costs. 

It's important for first-time buyers to keep stamp duty thresholds in mind when negotiating the final price, especially if the asking price is close to £300,000. For example, negotiating a £320,000 property down to £300,000 would save you an additional £1,000 in stamp duty.

For first-time buyers looking at homes around £500,000, it’s also crucial to recognise the significant jump in stamp duty once you cross that threshold. For instance, the difference in stamp duty between a £495,000 and £505,000 property is a substantial £5,500.

And although it may seem obvious, finding a property priced below the relevant threshold could mean no stamp duty at all. In some parts of the country, that’s still a realistic option.

2. Shop around for your mortgage 

In some cases, you may be able to save money by choosing a cashback mortgage, and lenders are currently offering up to £2,500 cashback on certain products. This could help cover legal fees and even part of your stamp duty bill, particularly if you've already put most of your savings towards the deposit. Fee-free mortgages can also reduce costs at the outset. 

In both cases, it's worth checking the interest rate too. A deal that looks attractive in the short term could end up costing more overall if the rate is higher than other products.

Some first-time buyers may be able to use a concessionary purchase mortgage if they're buying a home at a discount from their landlord or a family member. The property is typically sold for 5% to 10% below market value. This can make it possible to get a 90% or 95% mortgage with little or no deposit. 

However, putting down some money could still reduce your monthly repayments or improve your chances of being approved.

3. Try to save on other moving costs 

The average cost of moving home is £13,978, according to comparison site Reallymoving, based on more than 140,000 quotes generated on its website. However, this figure is based on the previous stamp duty thresholds, so the actual cost is now likely to be higher for many buyers. 

Shopping around for quotes from estate agents, conveyancers and removals firms can help bring this figure down. For example, Reallymoving found that the average estate agent fee is £4,544 — a cost that, in some cases, can be just as high as the stamp duty bill itself.

Conveyancing fees also vary depending on the property’s price and location. Some firms charge a flat fee, while others charge a percentage of the sale price. Be cautious if an estate agent recommends a conveyancer or surveyor, as they may receive a commission — and you could find the service cheaper elsewhere. 

4. Consider a new-build property

Housing developers have a variety of incentives, which could help buyers save on their move. Zoopla has previously found examples of developers including furniture, offering cashback or even paying the stamp duty. 

However, there are eligibility criteria that must be met. Your annual income before tax must not exceed £80,000 (or £90,000 in London). For joint buyers, your combined income must also fall within these limits.

Additionally, once the discount is applied, the price of a new-build First Home cannot exceed £250,000 (or £420,000 if the property is in London).

The scheme is only available in England, and it’s worth noting that councils may set local eligibility criteria.

We compared the prices of 79 popular grocery items and found that both Aldi and Lidl (with and without loyalty prices) were cheaper than shopping at Asda or Tesco with a Clubcard.

Read on to find out where was priciest, plus how the supermarkets compared for a much bigger list of 200 products.

Aldi prices beat Lidl Plus 

Throughout April, we checked the prices of 79 popular branded and own-brand groceries, including Hovis sliced bread, milk and cheese, at eight of the UK's biggest supermarkets to see how they compared.

The table shows how much our shopping cost on average:

What about a bigger shopping list? 

When we looked at a much larger selection (200 items), including more branded groceries, there were bigger savings with the loyalty schemes. 

Tesco with a Clubcard – which had loyalty prices on 87 of the items – was the second cheapest, followed by Sainsbury's with Nectar and Morrisons with More.

Waitrose was the most expensive again, at £570.89 – 13% more than Asda. 

We couldn't include Aldi or Lidl here as they didn't stock all the branded items on our list.

For shoppers without a Nectar card, Sainsbury's was the second-most expensive after Waitrose. High-end online supermarket Ocado, which stocks M&S label groceries, was £4.85 cheaper than Sainsbury's for non-Nectar card customers. 

How much of a discount do loyalty cards give?

Based on our smaller list of products, having a loyalty card would save an average of 0.01% at Lidl, 1% at Morrisons, 1% at Tesco and 3.9% at Sainsbury's over the month.

For our longer list, which included more branded groceries and a bigger selection of items with loyalty discounts, the savings were much more substantial – 1.8% at Morrisons, 6.5% at Tesco and 6.9% at Sainsbury's.

But you'd save even more money by switching to Aldi. 

We think some supermarkets could do more to ensure certain groups of shoppers, such as those without a smartphone or those who are under 18, can access – or know how they can access – loyalty prices.

What's happening to grocery prices?

Annual grocery price inflation rose slightly to 3.8% in the four weeks to 20 April, according to market analysts Kantar. 

Chocolate confectionery prices rose by 17.4% this period, the fastest of any category, prompted by shoppers appetite for Easter eggs. Despite higher prices, the volume of chocolate eggs sold through supermarket tills was up 0.4% on last year.

How Which? compares supermarket prices

We check the prices of hundreds of grocery items at eight major supermarkets, using an independent price comparison website. 

For each supermarket, we work out the average price of each item across the month, then add those up to get each store’s average price. 

Our shopping list comprises the country’s most popular and widely available groceries based on extensive market analysis. 

It includes branded items such as Cathedral City cheddar and Hellmann's mayonnaise, as well as own-brand products such as potatoes and baked beans. 

Own-brand items won’t be identical across supermarkets, but we’ve ensured everything we’ve compared is as similar as possible based on several factors, including quality and weight. 

We include special offers but not multibuy discounts. 

We are only able to take into account loyalty prices that apply to all members of a scheme (where there's one price on the shelf for shoppers with a loyalty card and another for those without). Currently, this type of two-tier pricing is used at Lidl, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose. 

We are unable to include discounts that are personalised to selected members, and we can’t factor in points or other rewards as these vary from customer to customer and don't always have a quantifiable monetary value.

Many are investment or money-management apps that partner with other banks to store your cash, including big high street names such as Barclays and HSBC. 

But does this matter, and is it anything to worry about? Here, Which? takes a closer look at how accounts with these providers work and explains how safe your money is.

Who's behind the top savings deals?

Some of the providers offering savings accounts today aren’t banks, but apps and platforms that offer these accounts alongside other financial services. It’s important to understand how they work — and how your money is protected.

These firms don’t offer traditional banking services such as current accounts and debit cards. Instead, savings and Isa accounts are offered alongside a wider range of financial products, including investments and even mortgages.

They’re often structured similarly to e-money institutions (EMIs) – firms authorised to hold and move money, but which don’t hold a UK banking licence. That means they must meet safeguarding requirements designed to protect customer funds.

This involves keeping your money separate from the firm’s own finances. For example, by placing deposits in a separate account with a regulated bank, holding it in low-risk investments, or protecting it through insurance or a similar guarantee.

How do rates compare?

Investment or money-management app products currently dominate the instant-access savings and cash Isa market. 

This table compares the best instant-access savings and cash Isa accounts. Results exclude products that impose restrictions on opening or withdrawals and are ordered by rate.

Investment apps Sidekick and Chip offer the second-best and third-best instant-access rates, while investment platform Moneybox and mortgage broker app Tembo Money top the instant-access cash Isa tables with their deals.

Rates are currently highest for instant-access cash Isas, which allow you to save up to £20,000 a year tax-free. If you are willing to restrict yourself to three withdrawals a year, then you could get as much as 5.71% AER with Moneybox's limited access cash Isa.

Other investment or money management apps that have been known to offer top cash Isa rates include Trading 212 and Plum. The former topped the charts last July when it launched its first instant-access cash Isa with a rate of 5.2%. Although it now offers a lower 4.35%. 

Plum's first instant-access cash Isa product, which only allows three withdrawals a year, also had a market-leading rate of 5.15% when it was released in March 2025. The rate has since dropped to 5.06%.

How safe are your savings?

These apps are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). They use partner banks to hold your money because FCA rules require them to keep customer cash separate from their own funds and ring-fenced, so they cannot use them whatsoever.  

And because these third-party banks are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), your savings benefit from the same protections as if you deposited your money directly into any UK bank. This means you can claim up to £85,000 for any shortfall in funds should the bank go bust. 

That £85,000 is per person, per bank. So using a savings product from an investment or money app that spreads funds across multiple providers means you potentially benefit from far more FSCS-protection than if you opened a single account with an actual bank. 

For example, let's say you opened an account with Tembo Money and your funds are divided between its four partner banks. You could, in theory, get up to £340,00 protection.

But a word of warning: if you already have a large sum invested in one of these partner banks separately and the app provider also puts a chunk of your savings into the same bank, you could potentially go over the £85,000 limit, and some of your money could end up unprotected.

Providers that don't have a UK banking licence would also need to make an FSCS claim on your behalf, and the process could take longer to settle than if you held an account directly with the bank. You may also be liable to pay any administrative costs.

Where your money is held

Moneybox spreads cash Isa funds across 10 banks, including HSBC, Santander and Barclays. 

Trading 212 holds cash in Barclays, NatWest and JPMorgan. 

Tembo Money partners with Barclays, Bank of Scotland, Aldermore Bank and Shawbrook Bank. 

Chip and Plum, on the other hand, are 'powered by' ClearBank and Citi Bank, respectively. 

Savings in wealth management app Sidekick's Easy Access pot are placed in OakNorth Bank.

What to check before you open

If you're unsure whether the provider you are opening an account with is a bank or another type of provider, read the small print first. 

The company should explain how it operates on the product website. Chip, for example, has a section which provides details on how your money is protected and a link to a fuller explanation. Moneybox also has a section about FSCS protection.

The provider's partner banks should be covered by FSCS protection. Banks sometimes merge, however, and that can have a significant impact on the protection of your savings. 

What else should you consider?

From August to September 2024, we asked 4,524 members of the public to rate their bank or building society. Based on those results, we created a customer score for each savings provider.

We've also analysed thousands of savings products and given each provider an overall interest rate score, highlighting which companies offer consistently competitive rates.

Moneybox, for example, not only offers the best cash Isa rate but is also a Which? Recommended Provider and has a customer score of 83%. Cahoot, on the other hand, which currently has the top instant-access product, was the lowest-ranked provider in our analysis; it scored a less-than-impressive 61%. 

Our other current WRPs are Zopa, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, and Yorkshire Building Society.

Instead, head to the likes of Rhodes, where you’ll pay £87 per night in a three to four-star hotel. Members recommend the principal city on the island of Rhodes, awarding it an overall score of 85%.

Below, we reveal more good-value European seaside towns and cities where you’ll find reasonably priced room rates and destination ratings of more than 80%. 

Rhodes 85%

There are destinations in the Mediterranean where you feel the pulse of European history, and Rhodes is a prime example. It’s split into two parts. The old town is a Unesco World Heritage Site, located within a mighty four-kilometre-long wall built to fortify the city. Here, you’ll find buzzy restaurants and wine bars sitting among intact medieval streets, a 15th-century hospital that now houses an archaeology museum, a 16th-century synagogue, and ruins such as the Temple of Aphrodite. Outside the citadel is the newer, more modern new town. Overall, it’s an excellent choice for history buffs eager to learn more, but, equally, you can simply admire the varied architecture and crumbling ruins from the comfort of a hospitable taverna or the town’s well-organised beach, Elli. 

Porto, Portugal 88%

Perched on the northern bank of the Douro River, Porto’s array of tascas, wine bars and pretty Azulejo-tiled buildings sits in a maze of cobblestone streets that tumble down the hillside. There’s a lot to see and do, including climbing the Clérigos tower, exploring museums and visiting the Museu de Arte Contemporânea – Porto’s answer to the Guggenheim. But if you prefer to relax during the day, Porto's western edge extends to the Atlantic Ocean, meaning you can head to one of its several beaches. The closest, Foz do Douro, is around 10 minutes away by car. There are prettier options, though, between 15 and 30 minutes away, such as Praia de Miramar and Praia de Espinho. By night, enjoy a few glasses of port in one of the many port houses in the Vila Nova de Gaia district, while overlooking the Douro and the impressive double-decked Luís I Bridge. 

Chania Town, Crete 85%

Due to its turbulent history, Chania Town bears a fascinating architectural landscape. You’ll find sculptures and buildings studded with mosaics built by the Romans, a pink multi-domed mosque constructed by the Ottomans, and a lighthouse and harbour left by the Venetians. This harbour is now lined with pastel-coloured bars and restaurants looking out over the Mediterranean sea – an idyllic place for a spot of lunch. Behind is a labyrinth of narrow streets studded with cafés, boutique shops and galleries. But if traipsing round in the heat gets too much, the town also has a kilometre-long beach, Neo Chora, backed by fish restaurants.

Nerja, Spain 83%

Managing to stay a low-rise resort along the Costa del Sol is no easy feat, but Nerja has kept developers, who have reached the likes of Torremolinos and Fuengirola, at bay. The result? It’s one of the more charming towns across this sunny stretch of Spain’s coastline. Instead of imposing tower blocks blocking the view of the Med, you’ll find pretty white buildings teetering along a cliff, set among palm trees above postcard-perfect coves. It’s no surprise it secured four out of five for attractiveness. It's this beauty, as well as its 10km-long sandy beach, that makes Nerja an idyllic seaside holiday hotspot. Just make sure to arrive at beaches like Playa de Calahonda by 10am if you want a parasol in high season. For a quieter beach day, head east to smaller, prettier Playa del Carabeo – just mind the steep steps.

Athens 80%

Athens, like most capital cities, is busy. It’s modern too, with a thriving street art scene and diverse nightlife, with everything from relaxed tavernas and buzzy rooftop cocktail bars to super clubs. Unlike many other capitals, though, this is punctuated not only by a beach but also by a wealth of ancient ruins. It’s hard to miss the main event, the Parthenon, a marble former temple dedicated to the goddess Athena. It’s a 2,500-year-old icon sat proudly atop the Acropolis, an ancient settlement perched on a rocky hill peering over the metropolis below. You’ll glimpse it at every turn. If you tire of the cultural sights, the Aegean Sea sits at the southeastern end of the city’s suburbs, recently dubbed the Athens Riviera. The closest beach, Edem, can be reached by tram in 25 minutes, but it's worth going a little further afield for a more peaceful and pretty beach visit.

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Before the pandemic, rooms used to be available from lunchtime. But this was pushed back to 3pm or even 4pm to allow for extra cleaning to stop the spread of Covid. 

When life returned to normal, hoteliers clung on to late check-ins. 

Hotel check-in times: Hilton, Marriott, Premier Inn and Travelodge compared

The worst example we found at a major chain was Macdonald Hotels and Resorts, a brand with 30 luxury hotels, nine self-catering accommodation resorts and 17 spas. 

It tells guests not to arrive until 5pm, and promptly turfs them out at 10am the next morning. When we asked Macdonald why, it told us that a 5pm check-in is reserved for its self-catering apartments, where larger spaces and longer stays require more thorough cleaning. 

But nowhere on its website is this made sufficiently clear. What is clear, is that if you want to check in at 3pm or sleep until midday, Macdonald charges an extra £29. 

*Monday to Friday 2pm. Saturday and Sunday 4pm.

Hotel early check-in and late check-out fees

Macdonald’s reasoning that shorter check-in and check-out times are needed to clean rooms has some validity. Many workers have left the hospitality industry in recent years, meaning fewer housekeeping staff available. The challenge is even greater for boutique or independently run hotels with a smaller roster of staff. 

But you do wonder how hard hotels are trying to fix the issue when early check-in – something we once enjoyed for free – is now an upselling opportunity. And it can be quite the money spinner. For example, if you plan to arrive before 3pm at Sofitel Heathrow Airport hotel, you can add early check-in at the booking stage – but it will cost you an extra £90. 

The cost of staying beyond 12pm the next day is an even more eye-watering £120. Pre-book online and it’s a flat fee regardless of whether you want an hour or a whole afternoon. You can contact Sofitel directly to negotiate – we were quoted £20 for every additional hour when we did this.

Mercure hotels charges £10 for every hour you want to access your room before 3pm, so an 11am check-in would set you back £40. Across hundreds of hotels and hundreds of thousands of room sales every year, the earnings are likely to be significant – and that’s on top of any savings made from employing fewer cleaning staff. 

Empty rooms: an upselling opportunity for hotels

‘Just sit back and count the money,’ is the advice from HotelFlex – a technology company designed to help hoteliers upsell those free hours. It promises a 4% increase in profits. 

Using automation, it predicts the departure and arrival time of guests, so hotels can better target sales of early check-ins and late check-outs. 

It’s likely why you’re now bombarded with texts and emails from your hotel asking what your arrival time is. The later you arrive, the bigger the potential profit for hotels.

One hotel room, sold twice

It appears that some hotels are cashing in by selling rooms twice within 24 hours. One property in London St Pancras offers day-only bookings between 10.30am and 3.30pm costing £70. That timing is convenient given its 10am check-out and 4pm check-in each day, and that it takes around 30 minutes to clean the average hotel room.

The listing is advertised on Dayuse, a Booking.com style website for guests who want to book a room for a few hours in the afternoon rather than overnight. Operating in 23 countries, the platform invites guests to spend ‘quality time’ with their loved ones or enjoy the hotel pool or spa during the day. 

A day booking could be handy if you have a long stopover or need to kill time before a late flight. But this convenience doesn’t come cheap. Take the Elmbank York Tapestry Collection by Hilton. When we checked, an overnight stay there was £180 – cheaper than a day slot (8am-2pm or 9am-6pm) for £185. That means you’re paying up to £30.80 an hour to enjoy the hotel by day (versus £3.85 an hour overnight).

If hotels sell the room overnight and again in the day, while flogging early check-in/late check-out, they will quickly make a lot more money from guests. 

3 ways to get into your hotel early for free 

1. Ask on arrival

Many receptionists are still willing to let guests head to the room early without paying if it’s available. And if not, only then is it worth considering paying the extra fee. 

2. Join hotel loyalty schemes

Members of Marriott Bonvoy’s free-to-join Ambassador Elite programme can check in to hotels at 9am on arrival day and check out as late as 9pm. 

3. Check your credit card perks

American Express Platinum cardholders can secure rooms from 12pm at participating hotels, including Four Seasons and Hilton hotels worldwide.

Hotels are increasingly adopting a Ryanair approach to services: stripping back the basics and offering them as chargeable extras, whether it’s early check-in, breakfast or even a room with a window. It’s in hoteliers’ interests to have guests arrive as late as possible, which is impractical and annoying for many holidaymakers, especially those on shorter breaks. It doesn’t just mean less time in the room, but also less time to enjoy other amenities such as the swimming pool, sauna or spa. None of which adds up to a relaxing break. 

Between January and March, it recorded more than 9,400 callouts for suspension failures, wheel damage and other problems linked to poor road surfaces –  up from 7,900 during the same period last year. 

Here, we explain whether you’re covered by insurance, how to claim from your council – and when it’s worth doing either. 

Will your car insurance cover pothole damage?

In most cases, yes – if you have a comprehensive car insurance policy, you should be able to claim for repairs caused by potholes.

But that doesn’t mean it’s always worth it. Insurers often classify pothole claims as ‘at fault’, meaning you'll need to pay the excess and risk losing your no-claims discount – even if the damage wasn’t your fault.

Here are a few key things to weigh up before claiming:

For example, if repairs come to £300 and your excess is £250, your insurer would only pay £50 – and your premium could still increase. In many cases, it’s cheaper to pay for repairs yourself and keep your claims record clean.

That said, claiming may be worthwhile if the damage is serious, the repair bill is much higher than your excess, or critical parts like suspension or steering components need replacing.

Can I claim from the council instead?

Yes, although success is not guaranteed. Councils and highways agencies are responsible for keeping roads in a safe condition, and you’re entitled to claim if they have failed to do so. 

Each authority has its own process, so check its website before submitting your claim.

Many drivers try the council route first to avoid losing their no-claims discount or facing higher insurance premiums. 

However, if the pothole had not already been reported, or the council can show it recently inspected the road and found no issue, your claim may be rejected. Under Section 58 of the Highways Act 1980, councils can defend claims if it can prove it took reasonable care. 

Still, reporting potholes can help highlight problems and may improve your chances if others have also been affected.

You cannot claim from both your insurer and the local authority. If you go through your insurer, you will not be able to make a separate claim to the council.

How to make a successful pothole claim

The success rate can be hit or miss when claiming from a local authority. But with strong evidence and the right approach, you may be able to cover your repair costs.  

Here’s what to do:

By cutting duplicate charges, consolidation could help savers keep more of their money. The government says this could boost the average worker’s retirement savings by around £1,000.

The plans, announced last week by pensions minister Torsten Bell, have been welcomed by Which?

Here, we outline what the changes will mean for you and how you can best keep track of your pensions. 

What is happening with small pension pots?

The aim is to automatically consolidate individuals’ small pensions without them having to give permission. Pension savers will be able to opt out if they want to and consolidate their money in a plan that they choose themselves if they wish. 

A ‘multiple default consolidator’ system, now officially known as the Small Pots Data Platform, will mean dividing small pots among various nominated companies or ‘consolidators’. 

These consolidator schemes will need to meet certain standards to ensure they offer good value for money and can manage people’s savings effectively.

The proposed date for the small pot transfers to begin is 2030.

Why are the changes needed?

The average person will have around 11 different jobs over their lifetime, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI). This will usually mean becoming a member of several pension schemes.

This can mean having many small pension pots which can be difficult to manage. There are an estimated 13m pensions worth less than £1,000 in the system and this can cause problems for people’s retirement planning.

Some providers also charge flat fees, which can gradually reduce the value of smaller pots. Consolidation could reduce the number of fees and make pensions more cost-effective.

The government says the average worker could be £1,000 better off, though how much you benefit will depend on your existing pension arrangements and the charges applied.

Rocio Concha, Which? director of policy and advocacy, welcomed the announcement: ‘Which? called for the consolidation of small pots under £1,000 before the election, so we are delighted that the government is committing to doing this – a move that will provide greater value for savers and support them to keep track of their pensions. 

‘Which? looks forward to working with the government to ensure the pension system is fit for the modern age.’

How to track down lost pensions 

Keeping track of all our pensions can be tricky. As we’ve outlined, a combination of people having more jobs and automatic enrolment into workplace pensions is behind the increasing number of ‘lost’ pensions.

The Pension Policy Institute estimates that 3.3m pension pots are lost in the UK, worth £31.1bn in total.

The government's Pension Tracing Service searches a database of over 200,000 pension schemes to find contact details for your provider. 

You’ll need the name of an employer or pension provider to use it, but it won’t tell you how much your pension is worth.

Some pension providers also offer their own tracing services. These tools include:

What to consider before consolidating 

The new measures will only impact the smallest pensions. People with larger pensions, and those who actively want to choose their pension provider, can still consolidate their pension pots themselves.

The main reasons to switch will be to reduce the charges on your scheme, particularly if you have an older plan with high fees, or to access different investment options.

Many workplace schemes don’t offer a full range of retirement income options or they restrict your investments to the firm’s own in-house funds.

The other main strategy is to consolidate all your retirement savings in one place, perhaps to make managing your pensions easier.

Unlike other types of private pensions, where you usually rely on the scheme provider to decide where your retirement savings should be invested, a Sipp means that you take on the responsibility for choosing and managing your own investments.

If you decide to go ahead, you’ll need to contact the provider you want to move to. It will give you an application form to fill in and will manage the transfer on your behalf. 

Could you have one pension for life?

Another initiative from the government could eventually solve the problem of too many small pots at source. 

The proposal is for a ‘lifetime pot or provider’ which would see us having just one pension scheme that we choose at the start of our career.

The idea proposes that employees choose their preferred pension scheme and then their current employer, as well as any future employers, pay into one retirement fund. 

This would make it easier to see how much you have saved for retirement in total and make sure that small pots didn’t go astray. 

The lifetime pot may be a way off, but pension dashboards should improve matters in the meantime. Dashboards will allow savers to see all their pensions in one place online, potentially reuniting them with lost retirement savings. 

The pension dashboards are expected to be launched to the public in late 2026, although there have already been several delays. 

Find out if Apple's cheapest iPad (2025) can keep up, and discover which iPad you should buy.

Apple's cheapest iPad 2025: what's new?

The latest 11-inch iPad (2025) is an upgrade of the 2022 version while launching for £170 less.

Plus it should last the test of time, with long upgrades and robust materials, making the appealing price stretch even further.

This 'standard' iPad now runs on the A16 Bionic chip with 6GB of Ram, which is new for iPad but it's the same processor found in the iPhone 15. Apple has doubled the storage on the cheapest model (from 64GB to 128GB) and there are versions with 256GB and 512GB if you need more. It can connect to Wi-Fi 6 for speedy data transfers (though Wi-Fi 7 is now the fastest).

Though its list of upgrades isn't drastic, it's still an iPad with high-end features. The 10.9-inch screen has a high 2,360 x 1,640-pixel resolution. Cameras are often an afterthought on tablets, but they're powerful enough on this iPad to take 4K videos.

Any drawbacks?

Now onto the downsides, but there are fewer than you might think. 

The main one is that you don't get Apple Intelligence, which are software features powered by AI technology. AI can proofread your text, rewrite text in a different tone, and summarise long pieces of writing to the main points you need to know. It also gives you the latest photo-editing abilities. 

Most people won't miss these, but if you're someone who wants their device to get all the latest software, then you'll have to choose a pricier iPad.

So is it the best iPad? No. But is it the best-value iPad? Probably.

How to choose which iPad is for you

There are four types of iPads to choose, ranging from £329 to over £1,000. You have the cheapest iPad (2025) above and three other variants: iPad Mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro. The iPad Air and Pro come with the choice of 11-inch or 13-inch displays.

Its important to think about how you're going to use your new iPad before deciding which to spend your money on. 

Find out more about the other iPads below, including the brand new iPad Air.

What about the new iPad Air 2025?

The iPad Air 2025 has been released with an upgraded processor – Apple's M3. This is meant to boost its performance and handle running Apple Intelligence features more efficiently.

Which other Apple iPads can you buy?

iPad Pro 2024

The iPad Pro is Apple's most advanced iPad. The latest iteration was released in 2024 and it hosts Apple's M4 processor with 8GB or a hefty 16GB of Ram, depending on which storage option you go for. It's a seriously premium processor and you get other high-end specs to match. 

But you only need it if you're going to use its full potential beyond the basics – think graphic-heavy gaming or 3D-modelling apps. 

iPad Mini (2024)

The iPad Mini has a more powerful processor than the iPad (2025). Its A17 Pro chipset with 8GB of Ram means it can run Apple Intelligence features, unlike the cheapest iPad. But you're really buying this iPad for its smaller size – it has an 8.4-inch screen.

This deals round-up only features products we've rigorously tested in our labs – we never recommend 'deals' on duds.  

Our tests are objective and reflect how things are used in real life, so you can trust the accuracy of our reviews, so read them before you buy.

Samsung QE55QN85D

Samsung’s QN85 series has long been populated by TVs with an array of modern features and state-of-the-art display technology. 

The 55-inch QE55QN85D continues in that tradition, with its Neo QLED screen, Neo Quantum HDR, Dolby Atmos audio and a special mode for next-gen gaming. Plus, there's a twin-tuner PVR, so you can record two channels at once to a USB hard drive.

Samsung Galaxy S24

Samsung's main flagship phone from 2024 is seeing discounts now the Galaxy S25 was released earlier this year. Its specs are enticing and include an upgraded Exynos 2400 processor, a screen that can reach an astronomical 2,600 nits in brightness and a 50Mp main camera.

Galaxy AI software gives you a number of extra features. For example, you can edit people out of photographs and AI will fill in the gap and remaster shots.

Samsung Galaxy Book 3 360 13.3-inch

This 2-in-1 laptop from Samsung has a 13.3-inch touchscreen that can be flipped all the way around so the laptop can be used like a large tablet, or propped up on a desk in ‘tent’ mode. It comes with a stylus for writing and drawing directly on the screen.

There are two USB-C ports, one of which is compatible with the fast Thunderbolt 4 standard. There’s also a full-sized USB port, HDMI, a micro-SD card slot and a 3.5mm headphone/microphone jack. It has a fingerprint reader for quick and easy logins.

It weighs 1.14kg, which is very light for a 13-inch 2-in-1. It’s very easy to carry around all day in a small bag.

Kobo Elipsa 2E

Released in mid-2023, the Elipsa 2E has one of the biggest screens we’ve seen on an ebook reader. It also comes with a stylus for drafting your own notes and you can store them as Notebook files and convert them to PDF or Doc files. 

It has Bluetooth connectivity and audiobook support, as well as physical button and touchscreen controls.

Worx WG743E.1

This price isn't the cheapest we've seen this mower go for, but it's one of the few products with money off. It has a 40cm cutting width, which can be adjusted at six different cutting heights. It also mulches.

It's a good choice if you're looking for a cheaper cordless mower, and this bargain makes it even more appealing.

Apple 11-inch iPad (2025)

This model has a 10.9-inch screen with 2,360 x 1,640-pixel resolution. It runs on the A16 Bionic chip with 6GB of Ram, which is the same processor found in the iPhone 15. The version we tested has 128GB of memory (which is double the base model of the 2022 version), or you can choose to have 256GB (from £429) or 512GB (from £629). You can buy a version with 5G for £479 if you're happy to pay extra.

Philips 3000 Series NA342/09

This single drawer basket-type air fryer has 16 cooking functions, from baking and grilling to defrosting and reheating, along with 12 presets covering everything from frozen fries to dehydrated fruits and keep warm.

Settings go as low as 40°C and as long as 24 hours for dehydration and fermentation.

Philips claims that its patented RapidAir Plus technology, with a unique star-shaped design, circulates hot air around and through the food with faster air flow, ensuring even cooking inside and outside to create tasty homemade meals.

Samsung RB33B610ESA

Samsung claims that its SpaceMax feature makes the walls slimmer, so a regular-size fridge on the outside has a larger capacity inside. We could fit in 13 carrier bags of food, but only one of the fridge shelves and one of the door racks can be height adjusted to give you more flexibility.

There are no super-cool or fast-freeze settings to speed things up when adding room-temperature items to this model. 

A fridge door alarm lets you know if it’s left open by mistake, although there’s no corresponding alarm on the freezer section.

Our pick: Plusnet Fibre

This is a good value deal for a solid provider with lots of satisfied customers.

Our pick: SleepSoul Heaven

It arrives rolled up in a box and only weighs 24kg, so it's not too tricky to carry to the room you want it in. 

Under the non-removable cover there's a generous 21cm pocket sprung core and multiple layers of foam, including a cool gel foam, which helps the mattress feel cold to lie one – helpful if you tend to overheat in the night.

LG F4Y709WBTA1

This 9kg capacity freestanding washing machine offers 13 wash programs to choose from, including options for cottons and mixed fabrics, as well as a speedy 14-minute wash for smaller loads and an eco setting. 

You can download extra programs via LG’s smartphone app, ThinQ, which also allows you to remote start your appliance and troubleshoot any issues you might have. LG claims that the ‘AI wash’ on this machine uses sensors to analyse the weight and fabric type of your laundry, optimising the washing motion to help your clothes last for longer. 

Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute

Dyson says its Cyclone V10 Absolute cordless vacuum is so good, you won't need a corded vacuum any more. That's big talk about the V10, which supersedes the V8 range. It boasts a longer claimed runtime of up to 60 minutes compared to its predecessor, as well as a totally redesigned larger dust capacity, too.

You'll get three power settings to choose from on the V10, and two floorheads: a turbo combination floorhead for use on all floors, and a soft roller floorhead for hard floors. For handheld cleaning, there's a mini-turbo tool, soft dusting brush, crevice tool, two-in-one upholstery tool and dusting brush.

May sale shopping tips 

Check the Which? website 

As well as telling you which products are best and which are lacking, we’ve also put together a list of the best and worst shops. 

We’ve quizzed thousands of Which? members on their experiences of shopping in some of the country’s best-known stores and websites, as well as with lesser-known brands. 

Watch out for sneaky tricks

Some retailers use underhand tactics to pressure you into making a purchase. 

These include anchor pricing (when products are on sale more often than they aren’t), pressure selling (‘30 people are viewing this right now!’) and dubious claims about the ‘before’ price of a product. 

Research customer reviews

It’s always a good idea to read reviews before you buy a product, but not all reviews are trustworthy. 

Some sellers incentivise people to post fake positive reviews to drown out genuine negative ones. If you’re in any doubt, check our expert guide on how to spot a fake review. 

Returning goods

The regulations give you a 14-day window to return a non-faulty product, which begins on the day you receive your goods. Many retailers will give you longer than this, but it's always best to check before you buy. 

The £1m winners are from Derbyshire and Suffolk. Meanwhile, 79 other winners bagged the next-best prize of £100,000.

Here, Which? reveals the winning bond numbers and checks out how alternative prize draws compare. 

May premium bond winners

The first winning bond (462DR240519) was bought by a lucky winner living in Derbyshire, and is part of a total holding of £25,361. The bond was bought in July 2021.

The second winner, from Suffolk, bought their bond (300ZZ346515) in April 2017. They have a total holding of £35,000.

Which? is sent the details of the premium bond jackpot winners and prize draw data the day before full results are made available to all premium bond holders via the app and online.

How many winners were drawn in May?

There were 5,941,150 premium bond prizes paid out in the May 2025 draw. Of these, 5,872,009 were worth £100 or less. 

In total, this month's prizes were worth £413,900,125.

How do other prize draws compare?

The number of high-value premium bond prizes dropped last month after NS&I cut the prize fund rate for the second time this year. Although there are still two £1m jackpot prizes up for grabs, the chances of winning anything remain very slim at just 22,000 to 1.

1. Chip Prize Savings Account

2. Halifax/Bank of Scotland savers draw

3. Coventry Building Society Sunny Day Saver Prize Draw

4. Santander F1 ticket prize draw

The deal will bring in an extra £500m over five years for the Post Office, but with high street branches continuing to close, what does this mean for your access to in-person banking?

Here, we look at what the new deal involves, how post office services compare with traditional branches, and the role banking hubs are playing in plugging the gap. 

How does the Post Office deal work?

Under something called 'The Banking Framework', first set up in 2017, personal and business customers of 30 banks and building societies can access everyday banking services at local post office branches. This includes customers of Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, Nationwide, NatWest Group and Santander. 

The current deal, due to expire at the end of this year, collectively costs banks £250m a year, but they will reportedly pay upwards of £350m a year under a new arrangement in place until 2030.   

The Post Office – which relies on a government subsidy and has come under scrutiny for its treatment of subpostmasters following the Horizon IT scandal – has said it will increase the remuneration postmasters receive for handling cash transactions and invest in the automation of in-branch cash services.

Post Office chief executive officer Neil Brocklehurst said: 'This new, five-year agreement with banks and building societies ensures our branches remain vital hubs for cash access and provides certainty for businesses and individuals nationwide when it comes to their everyday banking.'

Which banking services are available at post offices?

The list of what you can’t do is much longer. You won't be able to: 

Some banks are also scaling back the services available through post offices. For example, Lloyds Banking Group (which includes Bank of Scotland, Halifax and Lloyds) recently told customers they won’t be able to use personalised paying-in slips at post offices from 2 June, while cheques will not be accepted after 31 December 2025. 

Is your local post office suitable for banking?

The network is made up of: 

What about banking hubs?

Under a different initiative, the Post Office has also been tasked to run banking hubs. These are owned by Cash Access UK (a not-for-profit company funded by nine major banks) and offer a much wider range of banking services and support than post offices. 

Customers of almost any bank can visit a banking hub to withdraw or deposit cash and pay certain utility and household bills at the counter (run by post office staff). 

There are also private spaces with community bankers from nine major high street banks available on rotation, typically staffed by the banks with the most customers in the local area. These can assist customers with more complex issues such as debt advice, registering power of attorney, bereavement services and fraud support on specific days of the week. 

It’s likely that banking hubs will play an increasingly important role in the next few years, but it can take a long time between bank branches shutting down and a new hub opening, leaving some communities without access to in-person banking for months or even years. 

The government has pledged to have 350 banking hubs by 2029. With older, poorer and vulnerable customers disproportionately affected by bank branch closures, Which? wants the government to ensure these are delivered, and to revise that figure upwards if necessary. 

Buying a pricey pushchair can be a gamble. But the good news is that we've tested all Bugaboo's animal-themed pushchair range, including the Cameleon 3, Donkey Duo 2 and Bee 5, as well as the newer Butterfly and Fox strollers. 

Bugaboo Butterfly - from £369

The Bugaboo Butterfly is billed as 'the small pushchair for big cities'. It's IATA-compatible for carry-on cabin luggage, so it can remain conveniently close at hand if you're venturing abroad.

It gets its name from its quick and easy compact fold, so it can join you on your adventures without hindering you.

Bugaboo Dragonfly - from £695

The seat unit is reversible so can be parent or world-facing.

Bugaboo Fox 5 - from £1,115

According to the manufacturer, the Bugaboo Fox travel system pushchair is designed to be nimble, adaptable to any environment and intuitive to use.

It has sizeable all-terrain wheels, central-joint suspension and additional rear-wheel suspension to help it feel smooth and light to push.

It's highly customisable and, at the time of writing, parents can choose between nine hood fabric colours, two chassis colours, four seat fabric colours, as well as different wheel cap options and handlebar grips.

Our parent testers put it through its paces in our specially designed obstacle course that includes uneven grass, gravel and off-road terrain.

Bugaboo Fox 5 Renew - from £1500

The Fox 5 Renew is the 2025 update on the original Fox 5, with the main changes being made to the carrycot. 

Other than that, it's pretty similar to the original, although you may spot that the distinctive white buttons and levers that stand out on a Bugaboo pushchair are now black. This includes the brake pedal and fold mechanism.

Bugaboo Cameleon 3 Plus - from £690

The Cameleon was Bugaboo's flagship pushchair and the Cameleon 3 Plus was the most recent incarnation of the multi-tasking travel system, launched in 2018. This version had a redesigned shopping basket and a new seat unit.

It's no longer available on the Bugaboo website, but you may find it on other baby product retailer sites for a little while longer.

Bugaboo Donkey 5 Duo - from £1,530

The Donkey Duo 5 is a sturdy travel system pushchair that has an adjustable chassis, so it can be used with one child or extended to be used with two.

This single-to-double convertible pushchair isn't cheap, but it's futureproof and offers growing families flexibility, as each of the seats can be swapped for a carrycot or car seat.

As befits its name, the Donkey 5 also offers a large amount of storage, with a 10kg shopping basket and an extra 5kg side-luggage basket that can be used when in single mode.

Given the tech giant's huge array of products, it's not uncommon to spot a Samsung product on sale, including top-of-the-range Galaxy phones and tablets.

Each month, our experts sort through reams of bargains to find products that have performed well in our independent tests and have a genuine discount.

Read on for our picks of the best Samsung deals.

Best deals in the Samsung sale

The following Samsung offers are the best we've seen across a variety of retailers. We've included prices from a range choice of shops so you can compare.

Just straight to:

Samsung Galaxy S24

Samsung's main flagship phone from 2024 is seeing discounts now the Galaxy S25 was released earlier this year. Its specs are enticing and include an upgraded Exynos 2400 processor, a screen that can reach an astronomical 2,600 nits in brightness, and a 50Mp main camera.

Galaxy AI software gives you a number of extra features. For example, you can edit people out of photographs and AI will fill in the gap and remaster shots.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A9 64GB

This entry-level tablet with a small screen is currently on sale for the lowest price we've seen in the past six months. The screen has a resolution that's less than Full HD, but the eight-core processor has specifications that are impressive for this tablet's price.

If you're not sure if 64GB of storage is enough, you can expand it later with a micro SD card.

 Samsung RB33B610ESA

Samsung claims that its SpaceMax feature makes the walls slimmer, so a regular-size fridge on the outside has a larger capacity inside. We could fit in 13 carrier bags of food, but only one of the fridge shelves and one of the door racks can be height adjusted to give you more flexibility.

There are no super-cool or fast-freeze settings to speed things up when adding room-temperature items to this model. 

A fridge door alarm lets you know if it’s left open by mistake, although there’s no corresponding alarm on the freezer section.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro 45mm

If you have a Samsung phone and are keen on sports, then this smart watch could be the icing on the cake.

It has built in GPS, which means you can run without your phone, as well as heart rate monitoring and sleep tracking.

If you do have your phone on you, you can read messages and answer calls using your watch.

 Samsung QE55QN85D

Samsung’s QN85 series has long been populated by TVs with an array of modern features and state-of-the-art display technology. 

The 55-inch QE55QN85D continues in that tradition, with its Neo QLED screen, Neo Quantum HDR, Dolby Atmos audio and a special mode for next-gen gaming. Plus there's a twin-tuner PVR, so you can record two channels at once to a USB hard drive.

Samsung Bespoke Jet Plus Pro Extra VS20B95973B

Samsung’s Bespoke Jet Plus Pro Extra cordless vacuum comes with a wet cleaning feature – the wet floor brush and wet pads are included. It also has a striking LCD digital display that shows you the suction power and running time, charging status, error messages and maintenance guide. 

This is a bagless model with a fully washable dustbin. Other accessories include an extendable wand, upholstery nozzle, crevice tool, furniture brush, mini turbo brush, two additional dust bags and an angle tool.

Samsung Galaxy Book 3 360 13.3-inch

This 2-in-1 laptop from Samsung has a 13.3-inch touchscreen that can be flipped all the way around so the laptop can be used like a large tablet, or propped up on a desk in ‘tent’ mode. It comes with a stylus for writing and drawing directly on the screen.

There are two USB-C ports, one of which is compatible with the fast Thunderbolt 4 standard. There’s also a full-sized USB port, HDMI, a micro-SD card slot and a 3.5mm headphone/microphone jack. It has a fingerprint reader for quick and easy logins.

It weighs 1.14kg, which is very light for a 13-inch 2-in-1. It’s very easy to carry around all day in a small bag.

Samsung WW11DG5B25AEEU

This machine features Samsung’s SpaceMax design, meaning it can hold 11kg of cottons, without taking up any more floorspace than a standard washing machine. It can be linked to your smartphone, Alexa or Google Assistant and controlled remotely.

The AI EcoBubble feature pre-mixes water and detergent to create a foam; Samsung says this removes stains at lower temperatures, saving energy and reducing fabric damage.

Samsung Ring

Smart rings are among the latest additions to the world of wearable tech and promise to monitor health metrics, from heart rate to step count.

The Galaxy ring claims to be able to track your skin temperature while you sleep, which you can see in the Samsung health app, as well as autodetecting some exercises such as running and walking.

The Samsung ring connects to your mobile phone in order to use GPS and provide health stats - and will only work if you have an Android.

Are Samsung products good?

Where can I find the best Samsung deals?

Samsung typically offers deals that include traditional discounts but also free accessories, other devices like Chromebooks or significant cashback on older devices that can reduce the up front cost dramatically.

Best Samsung mobile phone contract deals

There are hundreds of contract deals for the Galaxy phone range and they change all the time. The key to getting a good deal is knowing how to work out the total cost to compare to other options. Use our phone contract calculator below to do that for deals you're weighing up, and bear the following in mind before you take the plunge:

We've looked at major retailers such as B&Q, Screwfix and AO, plus smaller outfits to bring you the best deals on our lab-tested mowers.

As people rush out to buy a lawn mower, the deals are looking like many of our gardens – a bit rough. We've spotted a few good ones and highlighted mowers at full price that we think are good value for money.

Our rigorous testing uses these mowers as you would in real life, so be sure to read our reviews before snapping up what looks like a good deal.

Jump straight in: 

Our pick: Worx WG743E.1

This price isn't the cheapest we've seen this mower go for, but it's one of the few products with money off. It has a 40cm cutting width, which can be adjusted at six different cutting heights. It also mulches.

It's a good choice if you're looking for a cheaper cordless mower, and this bargain makes it even more appealing.

Greenworks GWGD24LM33K4

This is a great option if you're looking for a budget-friendly electric mower. It's lightweight, and has a cutting width of 33cm – making it good for a quick trim on smaller lawns.

That said, the battery life isn't the best we've tested. You might want to consider picking up an extra battery (or two) if you have a larger lawn.

The best deal we spotted doesn't come with a battery, but you can use any Greenworks 24V battery with it. Pick up a 4 Ah one SQUIRREL_TEXT_50020635.

Or get a two-battery and charger bundle SQUIRREL_TEXT_50020636.

Bosch AdvancedRotak 36V-44-750

This electric mower uses a rotary blade (as the name would suggest), but there's a roller behind the blade, which can help give grass a neater finish.

It has a cutting width of 44cm, and its battery should last long enough to mow a medium-sized lawn. You can use the same batteries with other Bosch electric tools.

Mac Allister MLM1334 Corded Rotary Lawnmower

This budget-friendly corded mower is more expensive than usual, however – considering it's still under £100 – its value is hard to beat.

To adjust the cutting height, all you need to do is tweak a single lever. It's got six settings ranging from 20mm to 70mm. The cord reaches 10 metres, so if you have a larger garden, you might want extension leads (or to go cordless).

If you've got a small lawn or a smaller budget, this is a great pick.

Cobra M41C mower

We've seen this model cheaper in the last few months, but it's still good value for the money – even if it is pretty basic.

This petrol mower has a cutting width of 41cm, and the collector holds 50 litres of cut grass. There's no mulching function, so you'll need to use the collector.

Gardena Sileno Minimo 250

If you're looking to automate a chore, why not get a robot lawn mower? This model from Gardena will cut your grass regardless of the weather, unless the temperature dips below 5°C. 

How to spot a good lawn mower deal

Which lawn mower brand should I buy? 

There are several brands of lawn mower you can choose from, with some featuring eye-catching prices. That said, it's not always best to go for the cheapest or most expensive mower.

How we test lawn mowers

We buy each of the lawn mowers we test. We don't take sponsorships or freebies, so our in-depth reviews are impartial and honest.

In our testing, we pay attention to the most important aspects of a mower. Like how well it cuts grass, how easy each is to use, and how manoeuvrable it is. 

Each month, our experts sort through reams of bargains to find products that have performed well in our independent tests and have a genuine discount.

Read our picks for the best Apple deals.

Best Apple deals

The following Apple offers are the best we've seen across a variety of retailers. We've included prices from a range choice of shops so you can compare.

Just straight to:

Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro M4 (late 2024)

This 14-inch laptop from Apple has a powerful Apple M4 processor, 16GB of Ram and a 512GB SSD. 

It weighs 1.54kg, which is heavy for a 14-inch laptop, but this is due in part to its all-metal aluminium body and glass screen.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation)

Apple's ever-popular truly wireless earbuds come with additional features over the first-generation. You can now swap out the eartips and the charging case has been updated. 

They're rated IPX4 water and sweat resistant – meaning you can get water on them, but they shouldn't go for a swim.

Apple Watch Series 9

Apple Watch Series 9 is the brand's flagship 2023 watch but still packs punches two years later.

The wearable tech can do everything from monitor your heart rate, measure the amount of oxygen in your blood and track if you've had a fall. It can't, however, measure your blood pressure as some other models can.

Apple AirTag

AirTags connect to other Apple devices using Bluetooth and can be placed in wallets, keys and other valuable items to keep track of them.

There is a built-in speaker which emits a noise if you need to find your item and Apple claim the battery life lasts a year.

Apple 11-inch iPad (2025)

This model has a 10.9-inch screen with 2,360 x 1,640-pixel resolution. It runs on the A16 Bionic chip with 6GB of Ram, which is the same processor found in the iPhone 15. The version we tested has 128GB of memory (which is double the base model of the 2022 version) or you can choose to have 256GB (from £429) or 512GB (from £629). You can buy a version with 5G for £479, if you're happy to pay extra.

Best Apple iPhone 16 Sim-free deals

We like the iPhone 16's new Camera Control button, extra shooting modes, and its better processor, but many might consider there's not quite enough new here to justify an upgrade over the iPhone 15.

Is Apple a good brand?

Apple products have some world-leading specifications and high prices to match. Finding a decent discount on its popular products can be tricky but not impossible. 

One of the best ways is to pick a slightly older version of the device you're interested in. With Apple usually supporting devices with important updates for a number of years (six for phones and tablets, and at least seven for MacBooks), you'll be able to keep an older model for a while too. You'll likely be getting a good deal if it's 20% off the launch price.

How Which? can help you find the best Apple deals

Finding good discounts on Apple products can be tricky. Unlike other tech brands, it tends to offer fairly meagre discounts, especially on newer models.

However, Apple offers good support for its product range – iPhones, for example, typically offer the longest support periods, which may be in excess of six years.

As such, the best deals on Apple products can be on predecessors to the current range. Check our reviews of Apple products, listed below, to see how they fare in our tough tests. 

How to get an even better deal on Apple tech

Even when Apple products are discounted, they can still be some of the most expensive tech products on the market.

You might be able to save hundreds of pounds more if you buy a refurbished or second-hand device, but it's important to know what to expect when you buy.

Read more advice on refurbished or second-hand devices here:

How to recycle your old Apple tech

If you're upgrading from an older Apple product, you might be wondering what to do with the old one.

Electronics, particularly devices with batteries (such as mobile phones) should not be disposed of in your general household waste or kerbside recycling.

Which? found tickets listed for hugely inflated prices for a range of upcoming gigs, festivals and sports events, some of which explicitly prohibit tickets being sold through these secondary ticketing sites.

Fans who buy from sellers using these sites risk paying higher prices and could be refused entry.

Following a government consultation into the ticketing industry, Which? is calling for a price cap on resale tickets and tougher enforcement.

Tickets for popular gigs listed for eight times the face value price

Tickets for gigs and festivals are rife on Viagogo and StubHub International, despite many event organisers prohibiting the resale of tickets on these sites.

Resale tickets are often listed for steep prices even when face-value tickets via the primary ticket seller site (such as Ticketmaster) are still available.

Which? found tickets for Reading Festival listed at £596 on Viagogo and £616 on StubHub International, despite face-value tickets (costing £325) still being available through the official ticket agents.

Tickets for an upcoming IDLES gig in Bristol cost £59.65 at face value and were still available to buy via the primary ticket seller. But on Viagogo, we found ticket listed for as much as £480 – eight times the face value price.

Concerningly, it’s all too easy to find yourself buying from a secondary ticketing site instead of the official ticket partners. Secondary ticket sites often appear at the top of the Google search results when looking for tickets, meaning fans may not realise they're not buying through the official ticket seller.

Sports events listed for higher prices

Tickets for sports events can also be found listed at above face value on Viagogo and StubHub International.

Which? found Royal Ascot tickets listed on Viagogo for £150 to £154, and on StubHub International for £96, despite the fact that tickets were still available on the official website for just £34.

Royal Ascot told us tickets may only be bought or allocated by an authorised source approved by Ascot Racecourse, and that Viagogo and StubHub International are not approved sources.

Similarly, tickets for the 2025 British Grand Prix were listed on StubHub International for £181, while face value tickets were still available on the Silverstone website for £159.

On the ticket listing page, StubHub International included a disclaimer stating ticket resales are restricted for this event and that your ticket may not be valid for entry, but that this was ‘unlikely’.

Silverstone, however, confirmed to us that fans attempting to use a ticket at the gate that hasn’t been purchased directly from an official ticket agent run the risk of being refused entry.

It added that tickets sold for profit-making without its consent will be void and that holders of void tickets may be refused entry to the event with no refund.

'We didn't realise how inflated the prices were'

Sarah (not her real name) bought tickets listed on Viagogo for a sold-out Rammstein gig in Milton Keynes, paying around £120 per ticket.

She became concerned when the tickets arrived with someone else's name on them, as the event T&Cs stated that concertgoers needed to show ID matching the name on the ticket.

‘I contacted Viagogo for a refund, but they said I had to try to get in before they'd refund me,' Sarah said. 'The gig was a three-hour drive away – which is a long way to go just to be refused entry.'

Sarah spoke with the venue, which provided her with a letter that she then sent to Viagogo for a refund.

Ally’s husband purchased two tickets to see Pink in concert from a seller on Viagogo. He paid £400 for the two tickets, when the face value was around £40 each.

'He didn’t realise how inflated they were,' Ally told us. 'We didn’t end up going to the concert as I absolutely refused to spend that much money, so I put them back on the site to try and get some money back.'

'Resale sites often appear at the top of Google search results and it's not always clear that they aren’t the official selling site,' she added.

Which? calls for a price cap on resale tickets and tougher enforcement

The government has pledged to introduce stronger consumer protections for ticket purchases and is currently consulting on changes to ticket resales.

This cap should apply across all events, including music, sports and theatre.

Which? also believes that resale platforms should be required by law to verify that the seller owns a ticket before it can be listed on their site, and that they should also verify key information about a ticket, such as the original price and location within the venue. They should also be responsible for preventing the resale of tickets when the primary seller has prohibited resale.

What do Viagogo and StubHub International say?

Viagogo told us that sellers set the price of tickets and fans ultimately decide the ticket value that meets their budget. Wildly inflated ticket listings prices are not likely to sell at any profit.

In Sarah's case, Viagogo told us that she did receive valid tickets in time for the event. As a gesture of goodwill, Viagogo issued Sarah a full refund and an additional voucher.

It also told us it follows all governing legislation, including making it clear that it's a reselling platform. It rejects any suggestion that it misleads users, and discloses the face value for every ticket, as well as disclosures to highlight all primary event restrictions.

StubHub International told us that as a marketplace, it doesn't set ticket prices, and that sellers list at their preferred price, allowing buyers to decide whether to purchase based on what they believe is worthwhile.

It says it ensures ticket and price transparency from the earliest stage of the purchase journey, and that tickets listed at exceptionally high prices rarely, if ever, sell.

Speculative listings are not allowed on StubHub International's platform, and its verification process ensures ticket validity.

In the rare instance of an issue, both Viagogo and StubHub have guarantees in place, providing replacement tickets or a full refund.

I recently received a really random text message. It said ‘mediterranean vegetables with chicken and rice’ – all in lower case. 

My first thought was just to treat it as spam, delete and ignore it. Then I recognised the sender number – it was my number, texting my phone! I only have one phone.

I was worried that others in my contact book may have received this text, which appeared to be from me, so I checked with a few contacts – thankfully they hadn’t. 

My next thought was to try to block the sender, but I’m not sure if by doing that I’d block my own number, or register it as threat to my network provider.

Has anyone else had something like this happen? Is it safe to block and report? I’m worried that whoever sent it might send more messages.

Name and address supplied

This is one of the most bizarre cases we’ve ever seen. One thing seems likely: that it involves ‘number spoofing’, where scammers are able to display a false caller ID to prevent any comeback for their crimes. 

Scammers have been known to spoof the numbers of legitimate organisations as well as UK mobiles. 

The banal nature of the message could indicate a scam attempt. Scammers have been known to text innocuous things in an attempt to initiate a conversation with the curious recipient.

What I’m less clear on is why your own number was used – is it sheer coincidence, or a deliberate attempt to pique your interest? The onward journey of the scam is also unclear, but you might later receive a message with a link. 

I spoke to a cybersecurity expert who speculated about a second step in which scammers could later call you posing as your network, to trick you into divulging your details.

Ofcom noted that it has seen cases where scammers have spoofed the same or a similar number to increase the chances of getting a response. The theory behind this is that it's more likely that you would engage with a message or call if you recognised the number.

Neither that expert, nor Ofcom, nor industry body Mobile UK knew what would happen if you blocked your own number, so hold off. 

If you receive more messages, contact your network provider for help using the telephone number found on a recent bill. You should also be extra vigilant regarding any calls, messages or emails claiming to be from trusted organisations. 

We only feature products we've rigorously tested in our labs – we never recommend 'deals' on duds.  

We've scoured major retailers including Argos, Currys and John Lewis, along with Kindle offers on Amazon.co.uk and Kobo offers on Rakuten, to find you a great price on the latest generation of Kindle and Kobo e-readers that launched at the end of 2024.

But for the best possible savings we'd recommend taking a look at the slightly older models, which dropped in price when the newest ebook readers were released.

Best Kindle and Kobo e-reader deals for May 2025

See below for our pick of the e-reader deal of the month, or keep scrolling to check out the other e-reader deals we’ve found.

Our pick: Kobo Elipsa 2E

Released in mid-2023, the Elipsa 2E has one of the biggest screens we’ve seen on an ebook reader. It also comes with a stylus for drafting your own notes, which you can store as Notebook files or convert to PDF or Doc files. 

It has Bluetooth connectivity and audiobook support, as well as physical buttons and touchscreen controls.

Other e-reader deals we've found

Kobo Libra Colour

The Libra Colour is Kobo’s pricier colour e-reader model. It includes a number of features missing from other Kobo e-readers, most notably a page orientation setting (you can read either in portrait or landscape mode). 

Kobo Sage

The Sage has been available since late 2021, but it's certainly still worth considering as it includes lots of storage, the ability to borrow books via Libby (built directly into Kobo devices) and the screen is larger than average.

Useful features include Bluetooth connectivity, bookmarks and annotations. Plus you can use a stylus, although this is sold separately for around £70. 

How to spot a good e-reader deal

While deals are nearly always on for ebooks themselves, offers on e-readers tend to be more sporadic and rare. 

But random deal events occasionally crop up for both Kindle devices on Amazon.co.uk and Kobos on Rakuten, and this often incentivises other retailers to offer the same deal or better.

Kindle deals

When there are no deals, consider taking advantage of Amazon’s Trade-In scheme. By sending qualifying electronic devices (both Amazon-branded and electronics from other brands are accepted) you can save some money off your next purchase.

Kobo deals

We've released a new online calculator tool, which shows that by switching to the most appropriate electricity tariff, heat pump owners' ongoing energy bills can be lower than those of the equivalent gas or oil boiler.

With the right combination of an efficient heat pump and the most suitable tariff, households with a typical energy demand could save more than £500 a year on bills. 

Sounds too good to be true? We’ve looked at the options to find out how to do it.

But aren’t heat pumps expensive?

However, as well as that initial outlay, another commonly cited concern around installing a heat pump is the risk of potentially high running costs. And with good reason: heat pumps are powered by electricity, which is currently much more expensive, per unit of energy, than gas. 

The energy price cap between 1 April and 30 June 2025 is 27.03p/kWh for electricity and 6.99p/kWh for gas. Even allowing for the relative inefficiency of a gas boiler, to match the running costs of gas central heating, a heat pump would have to be more than three times as efficient to make up for the difference in price.

And although heat pumps can have a seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP) of 4.0 or more, indicating 400% efficiency across the year, there has been criticism that in cold weather they simply don’t perform at that level. That can result in higher bills or a cold home, which few people are willing to risk.

But what if the electricity running them was considerably cheaper than the current price cap rate? Suddenly the calculations look more promising.

Can heat pump running costs match those of gas boilers? 

Our new heat pump cost savings calculator, below, shows how much you might save compared with your current gas boiler. The tool was created in collaboration with Ambient, an independent not-for-profit organisation that supports the acceleration of electrified heating and cooling solutions.

The calculator is interactive, so you can input your own annual consumption figure to see a tailored savings estimate.

Using the average annual household gas consumption (11,500kWh) and typical boiler efficiency (85%), the running costs for a heat pump can match or beat the costs for a gas boiler, even when paying standard capped energy prices. For a heat pump with a SCOP of 3.0 (300% efficient), households can save around £43 a year on a standard price-capped tariff.

Heat pump electricity tariffs make for the best savings 

The biggest energy bill savings for people with heat pumps can be made by switching to a time-of-use tariff or a heat pump tariff that means the electricity powering your heat pump is considerably cheaper than the price cap.  

On an Octopus time-of-use tariff with a unit price of 17.99p/kWh, typical energy use households can save around £331 per year at SCOP 3.0 or as much as £476 per year at SCOP 4.0, compared to running a gas boiler.

OVO’s Heat Pump Plus tariff offers a rate of 15p/kWh for the energy used by the heat pump only; a standard rate applies to all other energy use. This could result in annual savings of £428 for a SCOP 3.0 heat pump, and more than £500 for SCOP 4.0, compared to running a gas boiler.

Start by saving on heat pump installation

Unless you have plenty of cash that you're willing to spend, you'd be forgiven for thinking a heat pump is out of reach. But there's a surprising amount of money to be saved on a heat pump at the moment. 

Many energy suppliers offer heat pumps and installations, with some claiming prices as low as £500 with a BUS grant. 

If your home is well insulated, with suitably sized radiators and an existing hot water tank, you may get a heat pump installed for that price. For most, however, it's likely to cost more, as you may need insulation, radiator upgrades and other 'extras'.

Once you've had your heat pump installed at a significant discount, the numbers show that your savings will mount up more quickly if you use a specialist heat pump tariff.

Which heat pump tariff is best?

There are relatively few tariffs currently on the market designed for heat pump owners. As new tariffs become available, the savings calculator above will be updated to show them for comparison purposes.

You'll need to have a smart meter that records half-hourly consumption to sign up for one of these, or any other time-of-use tariff.

As more switching options become available, expect to see heat pump tariffs from other energy suppliers. Other time-of-use (ToU) tariffs may also be suitable, depending on your pattern of use, but be careful of tariffs with very high peak rates, as you may not save money if you’re unable to shift your energy use away from those times (typically 4-7pm).

The cheapest tariff for you will depend on when you use the most energy, and how flexible you can be with your electricity use. To make the greatest savings, you'll probably need to schedule your heating, hot water and appliances using electronic timers or smart programmers, or be at home most of the day to manually switch things on and off at the right times.

Bear in mind that specialist time-of-use tariffs won't show up on energy comparison services, so you'll need to look into what specific providers can offer for your circumstances.

Most TVs are delivered in standard mode and this alone isn't always best for picture quality. Some even default to vivid or eco modes, which are even worse.

As you drill down into the menus you'll find dozens of options, but you don't need to be a calibration expert to improve your picture and these easy changes will help you boost your image quality.

1. Turn off adaptive contrast

This can often be active by default, but it's something we rarely if ever turn on or leave on when we're tweaking TV settings to get the best picture.

It mucks with the brightness depending what's being displayed. Lots of white on screen will see the brightness shoot up because the TV thinks that's useful and it will go the other way when the screen is blacker.

These inconsistencies and overall unpredictably is not conducive to a stable, natural image.

2. Set noise reduction to low or off entirely

What's noise? Well it's got nothing to do with speakers, weirdly enough. Noise is where flat areas of colour look like they're moving. Like static. 

You're probably now wondering why you wouldn't want your TV to reduce this, well unfortunately, there are side effects to noise reduction.

Reducing noise can remove detail too. It's like botox for the picture and smoothing out the lines, dots, peaks and valleys of the picture makes things look less natural.

You may find you want a little bit of smoothing though, finding a balance between noise reduction and the artificial smoothing that can come with it, but we wouldn't typically recommend setting it any higher than low.

3. Sharpness isn't your friend

Another day, another counterintuitive picture setting. TV tech is always striving for sharper more detailed picture, that's the main reason we move to higher resolutions. SD to HD, HD to 4K and 4K to 8K all see a considerable jump in sharpness, but despite that, you shouldn't crank up the sharpness on your TV.

Far from turning a blurry image sharp, cranking this setting up high can actually mask detail. What your TV is actually doing is overemphasisining the contrast on the edges of objects to make them stand out more. These hard highlights make content look artificial and sometimes jagged and pixelated.

4. Understand your picture modes

We tweak the TVs, so the picture is as versatile as possible and will suit whatever you're watching, whether it's a football match, the news or Psycho. 

There are arguments to be made for sport mode and the improvements to motion control, and movie mode if you want a more cinematic, dreamy image. Try them for yourself and see if you like the difference they make.

Ultimately though, we think setting your picture to look good for all content makes these modes largely redundant.

5. Make sure your picture settings apply to all your inputs

Whether you go in deep on picture settings, pouring over every option, or you just follow the tips we've given here just make sure you copy these settings across all your inputs. If you don't then all your hard work will only apply to the input you adjusted the settings on. For most people, that's likely to be whatever input they use to watch broadcast TV.

Luckily, newer TVs will ask you if you want to copy the picture settings you've adjusted across all your inputs (basically all your HDMI inputs) so make sure you click yes. If your TV doesn't do this then, sorry, you'll need to set the picture settings yourself for each input you use.

It's not the first time scammers have impersonated Apple, and it won't be the last.

Read on to learn more about these common impersonation scams and how to spot and avoid engaging with a scam email.

iCloud storage scam email

Scammers are impersonating Apple and iCloud to send dodgy emails claiming that your iCloud storage is full or nearly full to rush you into taking quick action to extend your storage capacity. 

In examples Which? saw, fraudsters added pressure by claiming that you’re ‘at risk of losing your photos, videos and important files', and that you must ‘upgrade today to keep your precious files and memories safe'. One email claimed to offer an 80% discount to 'upgrade now'.

Other emails stated that your payment method was out of date and needed to be updated in order to keep using iCloud services.

We also saw one email that said suspicious activities had been noticed on your iCloud account and it may be suspended.

All of these emails led to dodgy phishing websites that gather personal details, such as your name, email address and phone number and financial details, such as your bank information.

This information can go on to be sold on the dark web or used to craft a more convincing scam to target you with.

Tech brands are the most impersonated

Phishing attacks impersonating technology companies were the most common at the start of this year, according to insights shared by cyber security company Check Point.

Check Point has warned that scammers impersonating Microsoft were the most common, making up more than a third of phishing attempts it observed from January to March 2025.

Scammers impersonating Google made up one in eight phishing attempts and those that claimed to be from Apple accounted for just under one in 10.

From area view cameras to cruise control, we tell you which ones are worth it, and which ones are best turning down if they're an optional extra.

We bring you new episodes of Which? Shorts every Wednesday, all hosted by our team of journalists.

Holidaymakers reported problems accessing cash from cashpoints and checking in to flights because there was no mobile signal. Some municipalities in Spain asked for people to stay at home.

Is the blackout over in Spain and Portugal?

In general, yes - but you should still expect some disruption. 

Airports such as Madrid, Barcelona and Lisbon have now reopened, however The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office  (FCDO) has warned of continued disruption, and advised travellers to check with their tour operator or airline for more information before travelling, and to monitor local authorities for updates. 

Yesterday’s closure of airports and disruption to air traffic control will have a significant knock-on effect on travel to and from both countries. Several flights to and from Spain and Portugal today have already been cancelled and delayed, and this is likely to continue. 

Here’s our advice if your travel plans have been affected by the blackout.

Where in Spain and Portugal was affected by the power outage?

The power outage was nationwide, but larger cities appear to have been the worst affected. 

Madrid, Barcelona and Lisbon airports all suffered power outages, as did the public transport systems in those cities. Spain’s air traffic control agency said it wouldn’t process flight plans, which resulted in flight disruptions across Spain. 

Alicante, Malaga and the Algarve were also affected by the power outage.  

What to do if you’re due to travel to Spain or Portugal this week

Check the latest advice from your airport and airline or tour operator.

Power has been mostly restored to all affected areas in Spain and Portugal. But the disruption has caused some knock-on effects, such as flight cancellations and delays.

You’ll typically find the most up-to-date advice from airline apps and airport social media feeds, rather than their websites. 

If your flight is still operating, you’ll lose your money if you decide not to travel – unless you've booked a more expensive flexible fare. 

The best advice is not to cancel. You will lose all your money if you do so, and you won’t be able to claim via travel insurance. 

What to do if your holiday is in the next few weeks

It's unlikely that holidays in the coming weeks will be affected by the power outage. The electricity supply has been mostly restored, airports are back up and running, and there are no reports of further power cuts. 

Reach out to your tour operator or airline if you’d like to know more. And if you haven’t yet got travel insurance, organise it with a reputable provider as soon as possible.

My flight to Spain or Portugal was cancelled — what should I do?

Airlines must look after passengers when flights are cancelled, whatever the reason for the cancellation. That means putting you on an alternative flight to get you to your destination, if needed, or you can accept a refund. You are almost certainly better off insisting on rerouting if you still intend to travel, as rebooking flights will be expensive. 

Airlines are also legally required to pay for food and - if you're forced to stay overnight - cover the cost of a hotel stay. 

If you're stuck in Spain, the above is likely to prove difficult given the chaos caused by the power outage. That doesn’t affect your legal rights, though. So if you do buy a meal or need a hotel overnight, make sure you keep the receipts, as you'll be able to claim the money back from the airline.  

Your holiday and flight rights if a power outage happens

The blackout has ended across most affected areas and there is no reason to believe future power outages could occur. But here’s our advice for holidaymakers experiencing a power cut

Power has been restored to most of Spain and Portugal, but if further outages happen, there isn’t much travellers can do in the short term.

If you booked a package holiday, contact your provider and ask about your options. If electricity returns to some areas or buildings before others, you could ask to be moved to an alternative hotel or even a different resort. While the package travel regulations offer protection to customers where hotels aren't as advertised, you won't be able to claim compensation in this instance. The power outage is likely to be considered an unavoidable and extraordinary circumstance.

You may be able to claim costs from your travel insurance, especially if you end up having to pay for a new hotel. But speak to your insurer first, because all policies differ. 

As electricity has mostly returned, you should now be able to access cash at ATMs.

In the power outage, some shops, cafés and restaurants allowed customers to pay using a bank transfer via online banking, provided they still had access to the internet.

In future, if you’re on holiday amid an outage and find yourself in emergency circumstances, the British embassy or consulate may help in transferring money from friends or family in the UK. However, they charge a high fee for this service.

You may be able to purchase cash using your debit or credit card from a bureau de change on the high street or in airports, but be prepared to queue.

Your internet access, which is usually via a wi-fi connection in hotels and resorts, will be affected by any power outages. 

If your 4G or 5G mobile data isn't working, this isn't necessarily due to the power outage directly, and is likely caused by overloaded mobile networks. You may find that your connection is slower or intermittent.

If you can't access the internet or charge your phone, you may not be able to check in for your flight.

Issues include hidden sugar levels and dubious marketing practices that create a health 'halo' around certain products, leaving parents confused about their true contents.

Researchers assessed more than 600 food and drink products marketed for babies and toddlers under three years, at five of the largest UK supermarkets (Aldi, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Tesco), and found a market dominated by highly processed purées and sugary snacks. 

They also found that outdated baby food regulations mean it's difficult for parents to navigate the baby food aisle with confidence, as clever marketing means many products seem healthier than they really are.

Many baby snacks are too sugary

More than half of the products assessed contained high levels of sugar, with a quarter so excessive they would warrant warning labels under these guidelines.

A massive 89% of fruit products the researchers checked would warrant a 'high sugar' warning under WHO guidance. 

These types of snacks are often also low in calories and essential nutrients such as fats and protein. Plus, the fact that they're puréed means they can be consumed quickly without chewing, which can encourage overeating. 

Professor Janet Cade, who leads the Nutritional Epidemiology Group at the University of Leeds and worked on the study, says:

'We need to help parents to protect young children because we know that diet in early life sets the scene for later health outcomes.'

Clever marketing creates a ‘health halo’

Researchers assessed marketing claims on the products and how they were presented. They found evidence of misleading claims and suggestive marketing that made parents think some products were a healthier choice than they actually were.

Many products emphasise convenience, healthfulness and sustainability on the pack, but have poor nutritional profiles or high sugar content.

For example, Ella's Kitchen Pear & Peach Baby Rice contains just 3% rice, and Heinz Apple & Oat Pudding is just 1% oats. This information is on the back of the pack, but the main ingredient in both is fruit, rather than the grains mentioned in the name on the front.

Researchers also flagged use of terms such as 'nutritionally balanced by experts', which implies products were inherently good for young children (but is ultimately meaningless), plus 'greenwashing' tactics drawing attention to sustainability claims to create a positive and healthful overall image. 

These included:

Many products contain sugar from ingredients such as concentrated apple or grape juice, often disguised by claims such as 'naturally occurring sugars' or 'no added sugar'.

When the researchers spoke to 1,000 parents via a survey and focus groups, the perception was that these products were well regulated and healthy, and parents were shocked to discover otherwise. 

Seven out of 10 parents surveyed agreed there should be front-of-pack warnings on products with high sugar levels.

Inappropriate age recommendations contravene official guidance

Official guidelines advise weaning from six months, but 20% of cereal products and 33% of fruit and vegetable products the researchers checked stated they were suitable from '4+ months'. 

Parents surveyed for the study told researchers they felt confused by the conflicting advice given on food labels compared with government guidelines. One said: 'It's kind of like you've got two different sets of advice.'

What needs to change?

The Leeds Baby Food report raises concerns about systemic problems in the baby food market, including a lack of nutritionally appropriate products and irresponsible marketing.

It also highlights that current baby food regulations are outdated and insufficient for today's market. 

The high fat, salt, sugar rules (HFSS), which regulate junk foods and prevent them, for example, being promoted next to the tills in stores, don't apply to baby foods. Plus, outdated baby food regulations create a loophole that leaves parents struggling for clear guidance in the aisles.

'It's unacceptable that so many foods and snacks aimed at babies have such poor nutritional quality and high sugar levels.

The government urgently needs to update the out-of-date laws for commercial baby foods to ensure that there are tighter controls on their composition – including limits on their sugar and salt content – and that labelling is clear and upfront. 

It also needs to clamp down on any misleading marketing claims that suggest products are healthier than they really are.'

The Leeds Baby Food report proposes that the UK adopts existing WHO guidance covering nutritional, marketing and packaging profiles (NPPM), alongside other recommendations from their research. These include:

Baby food brands respond

We reached out the baby food brands mentioned above for their comments:

Our 'no added sugar' claim is legally approved. We never add sugar to our weaning products; all the sweetness comes naturally from the fruit + veg we use to make them. We’re committed to being open and transparent about our ingredients and recipes, and always putting the safely of little ones first.'

Some brands haven't yet responded to our request for comment.

Advice for parents on healthier baby food choices

The Leeds Baby Food report includes tips for parents looking to improve the diet of their babies or toddlers:

The Commercial Baby Foods in Crisis report, published in February 2025, is the result of a year-long study carried out by nutrition experts (Dr Diane Threapleton, Ali Morpeth and Professor Janet Cade) at the University of Leeds School of Food Science and Nutrition, and reviewed by the Obesity Health Alliance and The Food Foundation. 

Which? is a not-for-profit organisation wholly owned by the Consumers’ Association (registered charity no. 296072). 

Expanding your property without the steep cost of a full extension is a real benefit, but it’s worth making sure your garden room is set up to suit your lifestyle and needs. You’ll also need to check whether or not you'll need planning permission.

Read on for garden room ideas that will help you make the most of the extra space.

1. Garden office pods

If your home office setup is cramped and uninspiring, a garden office pod might be the ideal solution.

If you want to use it all year round, opt for a garden office pod with structural insulated panels (SIPs) and double glazing to help keep the space warm in winter and cool in summer. Just be aware that these will be more expensive to buy.

2. Garden room with shed

Combining garden storage with a separate area for work or relaxation can save you from building two structures, making it a more cost-effective and space-efficient solution. The storage space is accessed via a separate door, and you could use it to store bikes, a lawnmower, or your barbecue and garden furniture during the winter months. 

If you have the budget to build a garden room with its own storage area, consider the following:

3. Garden bar

A garden bar is a great way to bring that summer holiday feeling home, and will really boost your barbecues. Small garden bars are reasonably budget-friendly – we've spotted structures starting at around £200.

To help inspire your garden bar setup, we've picked out a range of options to suit various budgets:

4. Cinema and games room

Parents craving some peace and quiet might appreciate a dedicated spot for teenagers to hang out. A garden room could be a great fit – but if you’re planning to fill it with gadgets, you’ll need power, heating, and a reliable wi-fi signal.

If you suspect it might be on the noisy side, some sound insulation could be a smart investment. You could try adding acoustic foam panels or incorporating an acoustic slat wall to help absorb sound and reduce echo. 

The following garden rooms could serve as your starting point if you want to build a dedicated entertainment space:

5. Home gym

A home gym offers the luxury of working out whenever you like, without having to travel or pay for a gym membership. Instead, you can invest in the equipment that you find the most enjoyable or effective.

A wall-mounted rack is a brilliant addition to any home gym. It frees up floor space and allows you to organise weights, yoga mats and resistance bands. 

Start thinking about your home gym setup with these garden rooms:

Create your garden room with a Which? Trusted Trader

Just like our well-known Best Buy logo, the Which? Trusted Trader logo is a mark of reputation and trust. It's awarded only to traders who successfully pass an assessment carried out by our trading standards professionals.

'£325,000 is the magic number'

You’re right that the value of the money in your self-invested pension plan (Sipp), should you die on or after 6 April 2027, will be included when calculating the inheritance tax (IHT) due on your estate. 

If the money in your Sipp is more than your tax-free allowances (such as the £325,000 nil-rate band), then IHT will apply at a rate of 40%. 

Although IHT is usually payable by the executors of the estate, the government has proposed that for Sipps the pension scheme administrator will become liable for reporting and paying it. 

We expect legislation to confirm this later in the year.

Also note that your Sipp will still be administered separately from your will, because the Sipp is held within a trust wrapper. 

The trustees will follow your wishes to pass to the nominated beneficiary, in this case your children.

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You can file a tax return at any point between 6 April and the final cut-off date of 31 January. That deadline might seem like ages from now, but the process can be daunting if you've never done it before. 

Here, Which? offers seven steps to help rookie self-assessment customers successfully submit their first tax return.

1. Check if you need to file

Anyone with untaxed income from 2024-25 may need to complete a self-assessment form.

In a Which? survey of 1,269 members in November 2024, just under a third said they would be submitting a self-assessment tax return. Among them:

Other reasons why you might need to file include money made from tips and commissions, lodger income, and even claiming tax relief on charitable donations.

2. Register as soon as possible

There are many dates and deadlines to watch out for throughout the year, but the most important is the cut-off for registering with HMRC. You have until 5 October 2025 to let the tax office know you need to start using self-assessment. 

Once that's sorted, the next hurdle is to request an activation code for your account. That can take another 10 days to come through.

3. Make a note of deadlines 

Registering with HMRC isn't the only date you need to remember. Make sure you mark the following in your calendar:

4. Get your paperwork together

Before making a start, get together all the relevant documents and information you need to complete the self-assessment form. 

That includes your P60 form (if you’re employed), relevant receipts and invoices, bills, bank statements, tenancy agreements, student loan statements, and details of any benefits you’ve received.

It's also a good idea to go through your current and savings account statements for the relevant financial year, and make a list of all the different places your money is coming from. That way, you'll have a better idea of which income sources you need to declare and which taxes may be due. 

5. Don't forget allowances and expenses

You may be able to reduce your bill to HMRC by claiming various reliefs and allowances when you file your return. This can range from business trips to office running costs such as stationery. 

You can also claim tax relief on the cost of running a business premises, including energy. If your workplace is at home, then you can also claim a proportion of your bills for the time you are working.

There are also tax breaks for higher-rate and additional taxpayers who made Gift Aid declarations when donating to charity, as well as tax relief on pension contributions using self-assessment.

If you’re declaring capital gains – after selling shares or an investment property, for example – you can reduce your tax bill by offsetting any losses made during the financial year you're filing for.

6. Seek help if you need it

If you don't think you can pay by the deadline of 31 January, get in touch with HMRC as soon as possible.

7. Use a tax calculator

You can declare income from a range of sources, and even use the tool to submit your return directly to HMRC once you're satisfied that everything's been included.