Your Monthly Family Travel Insider

Planning family trips this month? We’ve rounded up the latest updates on airport strikes, security rule changes, Schengen border requirements, family-friendly events, exclusive travel deals, and our top gear picks to help you make the most of your travels this month.

STF Insider Tip: Best Family Destinations for September

With the back-to-school season in full swing and the peak summer crowds easing off, September is one of the best times of the year for family travel. You’ll find cheaper flights, quieter attractions, and better availability at popular destinations. Here are our top picks this month:

Travel Disruption Updates

Airport Strikes

UK: Good news for September: there are no planned airport strikes in the UK this month. However, there will be significant Tube and DLR strikes in London from 5–11 September. If you’re flying during this period, make alternative travel plans to get to and from London airports.

pain: Baggage handling strikes by Azul Handling continue on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays throughout 2025. Airports affected include Barcelona, Madrid, and Palma de Mallorca. Expect potential delays for departures and arrivals on these days.

Portugal: Ground handling staff at several airports, including Faro, Lisbon, and Madeira, have planned intermittent strike action on weekends from September through the end of the year. Allow extra time if you’re flying to or from Portugal.

New UK Airport Security Rules

Starting September 2025, several UK airports have rolled out advanced CT scanners for security screening, changing the rules for liquids and electronics in hand luggage.

What’s New:

• Edinburgh & Birmingham: Fully upgraded so you can now take liquids up to 2 litres and keep electronics in your bag.
• Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester & others: New scanners are being installed lane by lane, so rules vary depending on which lane you pass through.
• Luton: Installing 12 scanners so new rules will be phased in soon.
• EU Airports: Some, like Rome, have similar scanners, but the 100ml liquid rule still applies across most of the EU for now.

What Families Need to Know:

• Check your departure and arrival airports before flying — rules vary.
• At some airports, liquid containers up to 2 litres are allowed.
• Vacuum flasks must be emptied before screening, even with the new tech.
• The UK government expects full rollout by 2026.

This is a big win for families as it means fewer unpacking hassles, faster queues, and less stress at security.

Schengen Zone Travel Changes

From 12 October 2025, the EU will begin rolling out the Entry/Exit System (EES), which will digitally register biometric data, including fingerprints and facial scans, for most non-EU travellers, including UK nationals.

Key Points for Families:

• The rollout starts in October and continues until April 2026.
• Manual passport stamping will be replaced by digital checks.
• Children under 12 are exempt from fingerprinting.
• Expect longer waits initially while the system is phased in, but faster crossings once your data is registered.

If you’re heading to Europe later this year, plan extra time at borders.

September Family-Friendly Events & Festivals

Looking for ideas to make the most of September? Here are some highlights across the UK and Europe:

UK Events

BBC Radio 2 In The Park — Chelmsford (5–7 Sept)
Big-name performances, family-friendly atmosphere, and safety wristbands for kids.

Sonic Wave Festival — Scunthorpe (5–6 Sept)
Indie tribute bands, camping available, and open to under-18s.

Down at The Abbey — Reading (6–7 Sept)
Live music, free kids’ activities (Sat only), and street food in the historic abbey ruins.

Avonstock Festival — Stratford-upon-Avon (12–14 Sept)
Small, family-friendly music festival — under 5s go free.

York Food & Drink Festival — York (19–28 Sept)
Free entry, with extra events and tastings for ticket holders.

Jane Austen Festival — Bath (12–21 Sept)
Period costumes, guided walks, costumed balls, and theatrical performances.

European Highlight

• World Festival of Puppet Theatres — Charleville-Mézières, France (19–28 Sept)
  One of the world’s biggest puppetry events, with 250 performances across 50 venues, attracting artists from 25+ countries. Perfect for families looking for something unique.