This morning (8 January) Penarth featured in a Rip Off Britain 'Holiday' programme on BBC One.

Narrated by Julia Somerville, travel expert Simon Calder's short segment aims to provide some "top tips" for so-called 'Staycationers' when pandemic restrictions ease.

This week, Simon explored "the hidden gems on our doorstep in South Wales".

He took viewers on a whistlestop tour from Cardiff Bay to Barry, with brief detours to Penarth, Lavernock Point and Sully Island.

Here's what Simon says are the must-see spots for tourists to tick off:

Esplanade and Pier

Simon suggests tourists begin in Cardiff Bay ("The starting point for a grand day out") before heading over the tidal barrage to the Marina.

According to narrator Julia Somerville, they should then "clamber to the heights above Penarth and down to the Esplanade where the main attraction is the beautifully restored Victorian edifice that won Pier of the Year in 2014."

"There's no better place than the Waterloo Tea Rooms for a cuppa."

Tripadvisor seem to agree, with the Pier Pavilion coming in at No.2 on their "Top Attractions in Penarth" list behind the BBC-omitted Cosmeston Lakes.

Alexandra Park

Penarth's biggest and most topiaried park gets a mention, but here simply as a pleasant thoroughfare towards the town.

Nub News suspects the BBC delved into its "generic park stock footage" file for B-roll here, as we're pretty sure the images displayed aren't of Alexandra Park at all.

What do you think?

Turner House Gallery

Next up on Simon's tour is Turner House, "if you need a culture fix".

"The Grade II Listed Turner House Gallery is now a miniature offshoot of the National Museum of Wales - and best of all, it's free," Julia narrates.

The iconic building was due to reopen this month after four years of non-use, but the imposition of a nationwide lockdown has put a spanner in the works.

Penarth Town Council are currently exploring various options for how to proceed with the iconic gallery's return.

It had been due to reopen to the public on 24 January with a new Hayward Gallery Touring show of screen-prints by Eduardo Paolozzi.

Lavernock Point

Lavernock Point gets a mention for "making radio history."

Italian engineer Guglielmo Marconi, assisted by George Kemp (who was a Cardiff-based Post Office engineer) transmitted and received the first wireless signals over open sea between Lavernock Point and Flat Holm island in 1897.

Transitted in Morse Code, it read "ARE YOU READY".

Most visitors nowadays are perhaps more likely drawn to the stunning views and nature reserve.

Sully Island

The programme calls the formation an "uninhabited joy."

"This Site of Special Scientific Interest is made up of intricate slabs of rock covered by a dome of dense bracken and sparse grass and great views across the water...

"Watch out for the tide though so you don't get stranded!"

Watch the programme on BBC iPlayer

Do you agree with Simon's selections? Has he missed out on some hidden gems? Let us know on the comments of our Facebook page!