Introducing the Essential Holiday Puzzle Book: the perfect companion. Get yours for £7.99 including P&P.

While holidays are meant for relaxation, the journey there can be stressful! That’s where The Essential Holiday Puzzle Book could just become your must‑have travel companion.

Designed for summer getaways, this lightweight and easy‑to‑carry puzzle book offers the perfect balance of relaxation, brain engagement, and shared fun. Whether you're travelling solo, enjoying a romantic beach escape, or holidaying with family and friends, this helpful little book is designed to keep everyone entertained!

Inside The Essential Holiday Puzzle Book, you’ll find:

Quick brain teasers

Familiar puzzle favourites

Themed summer puzzles

Picture puzzles to keep the holiday spirit alive

If you’re looking for a stress relief activity while travelling, this collection helps you slow down, focus, and truly switch off. Puzzles are a proven way to calm the mind, reduce stress, and keep your brain gently engaged without feeling like work.

Connect through pen and paper games

Beyond solo puzzles, this book includes pen and paper activities and board games designed to bring out your competitive side – perfect for keeping everyone busy during those long car journeys and flights.

Plus, it’s a great activity to pull out for surprise rainy afternoons or even a relaxing night in!

Whether you’re travelling with kids, teens or adults, these collaborative games encourage laughter, teamwork and a little friendly competition, giving you an all‑in‑one solution to make connecting easy and screen‑free.

✅ Solo relaxation puzzles
✅ Group board games
✅ Stress‑relieving activities
✅ Brain‑boosting teasers
✅ Travel‑friendly design

Ready to make your holiday more fun?

Don’t let boredom interrupt your well‑earned break. Pack The Essential Holiday Puzzle Book and enjoy stress‑free entertainment wherever you go.

And the best part? It’s only £7.99, including postage and packaging - a brilliant little gift, or a well-deserved treat before your next trip.

Click here to buy yours today

Available in all good newsagents.

If you’re searching for a way to keep kids entertained, engaged and off their screens this summer, the brand-new Kids Activity Book presents Top Trumps bookazine is the ultimate solution - perfect for ages 3-5.

Created by the team behind Take a Break Puzzles - the UK’s biggest puzzle brand - this exciting new launch brings together trusted puzzle expertise with the iconic Top Trumps brand, loved by families for over 50 years. With more than 100 million packs sold in the UK, Top Trumps has been a staple of childhood for generations. Now, it’s been reimagined in a fresh, interactive format designed especially for today’s generation of children - with the additional chance for them to win some fantastic prizes!

As 2026 marks the ‘Year of Reading’, we know that as a parent, you’re actively looking for meaningful ways to reduce screen time and promote healthier habits for your kids. This bookazine has been created by parents within the Take a Break team who understand that balance is key. Every puzzle, challenge and activity is designed to entertain while also supporting problem‑solving skills, concentration and confidence. It’s all part of the brand’s wider mission to entertain, engage and promote positive mental health through puzzles and games.

Priced at £4.99, it delivers far more than your average children’s magazine. Bridging the gap between puzzles and play, it combines brain‑boosting activities with the competitive fun kids already love. Inside, discover exclusive Top Trumps‑inspired puzzles and games, alongside favourites that young fans of the Take a Break Bumper Kids’ Activity Book already enjoy.

With 24 full‑colour pages, it’s packed with engaging content, from under-the-sea themed puzzles and fact files to Top Trumps Ultimate Showdown and iconic ‘Goddit’ game!

And there’s even more excitement in store. Three lucky winners will have the chance to win a bundle of Top Trumps goodies by solving the prize puzzle - encouraging ongoing Top Trumps play beyond the pages. It’s not just a puzzle book; it’s a gateway to hours of interactive fun – giving you the chance as a busy parent to recharge and relax for a moment.

Perfect for long summer days, rainy afternoons, holidays or travel, this activity book provides independent entertainment that doesn’t rely on Wi‑Fi or batteries. It keeps children busy, thinking and learning – without feeling like homework.

It also makes a fantastic gift. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent or family friend, this bookazine offers affordable, high‑quality entertainment with lasting appeal. Instead of another plastic toy or fleeting novelty, give the gift of something interactive, creative and genuinely worthwhile.

For families seeking smarter summer fun, the Kids Activity Book presents Top Trumps is more than just a magazine – it’s a screen‑free adventure waiting to happen. Buy yours in all good newsagents today.

Closing date for issue 7 is midnight 23 July 2026. Only one entry per person, per issue for our competitions.

Closing date for issue 7 is midnight 23 July. Only one entry per person, per issue for our competitions.

Closing date for issue 7 is midnight 23 July 2026. Only one entry per person, per issue for our competitions.

Closing date for issue 7 is midnight 30 July 2026. Only one entry per person, per issue for our competitions.

Closing date for issue 7 is midnight 30 July 2026. Only one entry per person, per issue for our competitions.

Closing date for issue 3 is midnight 20th August 2026. Only one entry per person, per issue for our competitions.

£50 Cash (10 Winners)

Issue 06 2026:

Page 4: S Gaughan, Sheffield.

Page 9: L Young, Glasgow.

Page 17: E Simpson, Dundee.

Page 23: J Skelton, Sheffield.

Page 34: B Smith, Broadstairs, Kent.

Page 39: L Hughes, Durham.

Page 48: L Dungavel, Leeds.

Page 53: S Hodges, Rochester, Kent.

Page 67: F McDowell, London.

Page 75: A Arnett, Cumnock, Ayrshire.

Issue 05 2026:

Page 4: D Pegram, Stevenage, Hertfordshire.

Page 9: A Bancroft, Chesterfield, Derbyshire.

Page 17: V Butler, Alresford, Hampshire.

Page 23: G Johnson, Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire.

Page 34: G Gardner, Gateshead, Tyne And Wear.

Page 39: D Jackson, Manchester.

Page 48: D Deakin, Stoke-On-Trent.

Page 53: R Woolard, Broxbourne, Hertfordshire.

Page 67: G Hutchinson, Leicester.

Page 75 Fuller, Par, Cornwall.

Issue 04 2026:

Page 4: D French, WIMBORNE, Dorset.

Page 9: E Birch, MAIDSTONE, Kent.

Page 17: J Skelton, SHEFFIELD.

Page 23: S Shoebridge, EAST GRINSTEAD, West Sussex.

Page 34: S Smith, SUNDERLAND.

Page 48: V McGuire, WHITEHAVEN, Cumbria.

Page 53: G Wright, SWANSEA.

Page 67: L Clarke, MOTHERWELL, Lanarkshire.

Page 75**:** R Panton, COLCHESTER.

Issue 03 2026:

Page 4: E Stafford, Radstock.

Page 9: H Sault, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.

Page 17: N Haines, Melksham, Wiltshire.

Page 23: P Gilbert, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire.

Page 34: S Cowdery, Brixham, Devon.

Page 39: S Wain, Peacehaven, East Sussex.

Page 48: L Pyper, Bathgate, West Lothian.

Page 53: C Reed, Hartlepool, Cleveland.

Page 67: J Holyland, Loughborough, Leicestershire.

Page 75: C Sherburn, Cleethorpes, North Lincolnshire.

Issue 02 2026:

Page 4: J Dowsell, Nuneaton, Warwickshire.

Page 9: A Gerbaldi, Bexhill-On-Sea, East Sussex.

Page 17: K Cavalier, Southampton.

Page 23: M Evans, Aberystwyth, Dyfed.

Page 34: C Mangan, Ammanford, Dyfed.

Page 39: J Driver, Manchester.

Page 48: J Cripps, Oldbury, West Midlands.

Page 53: D Loins, Basingstoke, Hampshire.

Page 67: S Burt, Bournemouth.

Page 75: D Slack, Glasgow.

Issue 01 2026:

Page 4: A Starr-Kay, Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire.

Page 9: S Davey, Romford.

Page 17: S Chadwick, Bradford, West Yorkshire.

Page 23: S Allen, Stockport, Cheshire.

Page 34: K Polkinghorne, Callington, Cornwall.

Page 39: H Hendry, Southampton.

Page 48: V Mcguire, Whitehaven, Cumbria.

Page 53: H Sault, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.

Page 67: S Eden, Hull.

Page 75: S Smith, Sunderland.

This competition is run jointly across the following participating titles:

Mini Arrowwords Collection, Mini Codebreakers Collection, Mini Crosswords Collection, Mini Puzzle Mix Collection, Mini Sudoku Collection, Mini Wordsearch Collection

Issue 06 2026: R Westwood, King's Lynn, Norfolk.

Issue 05 2026: D Moon, Shrewsbury.

Issue 04 2026: L Harris, Reading.

Issue 03 2026: S Kinnair, Flint, Clwyd.

Issue 02 2026: B Lakhani, Crawley, West Sussex.

Issue 01 2026: S Garderner, Millom, Cumbria.

Closing date for issue 8 is midnight 13th August 2026. Only one entry per person, per issue for our competitions.

Closing date for issue 7 is midnight the 23 July 2026. Only one entry per person, per issue for our competitions.

Closing date for issue 7 is midnight 16th July 2026. Only one entry per person, per issue for our competitions.

Closing date for issue 8 is midnight 27th of August 2026. Only one entry per person, per issue for our competitions.

Closing date for issue 7 is midnight 30th of July 2026. Only one entry per person, per issue for our competitions.

Closing date for issue 8 is midnight 27th of August 2026. Only one entry per person, per issue for our competitions.

Closing date for issue 8 is midnight 27th of August 2026. Only one entry per person, per issue for our competitions.

Enjoy 3 issues for just £5 with our brilliant summer offer!

When summer arrives and life slows to a gentler pace, it’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy simple pleasures that both relax and stimulate the mind. If you’re searching for a rewarding, screen-free way to unwind in the sunshine, Take a Crossword, Take a Puzzle, and Arrowwords offer the ideal companions for lazy afternoons and peaceful evenings alike.

For dedicated crossword fans, Take a Crossword delivers a brilliant mix of puzzles to suit every mood. From quick and approachable grids to more testing cryptic challenges, each issue is packed with clever clues and that unbeatable sense of achievement when you fill in the final square. It’s a refreshing mental workout without pressure - just pure puzzling pleasure.

If you enjoy variety, Take a Puzzle brings together an exciting assortment of brainteasers. Inside, you’ll find everything from sudoku and number puzzles to word searches, logic challenges, and codebreakers. Whether you have five spare minutes or a leisurely hour to fill, there’s always something engaging waiting on the page.

Meanwhile, Arrowwords offers a distinctive twist on traditional crosswords. Combining wordplay, general knowledge, and logical thinking, these cleverly structured puzzles cater to beginners and seasoned solvers alike. With a range of difficulty levels, you can choose between quick wins and more thought-provoking tests - perfect for dipping in throughout the day or settling down for a longer session.

Beyond the enjoyment factor, puzzling also comes with genuine benefits. Regularly tackling crosswords and brainteasers can help strengthen memory, improve concentration, and keep your mind agile - all while providing a calming escape from screens and daily distractions.

As an added bonus, each magazine includes competitions with fantastic prizes up for grabs, from cash prizes to holidays and more. Entry is simple, adding an extra layer of excitement to your solving experience.

This summer, give yourself the gift of relaxing, rewarding entertainment. Subscribe to Take a Crossword, Take a Puzzle, or Arrowwords and enjoy FREE UK delivery straight to your door!

Explore our variety of puzzle titles here and get 3 issues for £5 in our summer sale!

CLICK HERE

Closing date for issue 6 is midnight 17th August 2026. Only one entry per person, per issue for our competitions.

£1000 Cash

Issue 05 2026: F Hills, Folkestone, Kent.

Issue 04 2026: K Basham, Sheffield.

Issue 03 2026: H Hurley, Birmingham.

Issue 02 2026: W Chapman, Northampton.

Issue 01 2026: L Smith, Witham, Essex.

£500 Cash

Issue 05 2026: P Hudson, Stockport, Cheshire. W Pietralczyk, Newbury, Berkshire.

Issue 04 2026: L James, Luton. E Whitehead, Nuneaton, Warwickshire.

Issue 03 2026: B Ewing, Mauchline, Ayrshire. E Fowler, Nottingham.

Issue 02 2026: D Kelly, Rochdale, Lancashire. C Smith, King's Lynn, Norfolk.

Issue 01 2026 P Blake, Southampton. J Reeves, Newtown, Powys.

£250 Cash

Issue 05 2026: M Farrington, Wolverhampton. N Newitt, Leicester. B Lumsden, Newcastle Upon Tyne.   R Thompson, Prudhoe, Northumberland.

Issue 04 2026: L Dennis, Norwich. M Evans, Pencader, Dyfed. G Foster, Dunstable, Bedfordshire.

T Whitfield, Haverhill, Suffolk.

Issue 03 2026: C Mason, Skipton, North Yorkshire. B Pottsbyrne, Stoke-On-Trent. L Sharrock, Llandudno, Gwynedd. P Willcox, St. Helens, Merseyside.

Issue 02 2026: J Edwards, Newton Abbot, Devon. A Kellaway, Reading. K Minshull, Clitheroe, Lancashire. J Rawson, Nottingham.

Issue 01 2026 D Collins, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh. E Gibbon, Thornton Heath, Surrey.                   L Light, St. Leonards-On-Sea, East Sussex. E Magill, Belfast.

£100 Cash

Issue 05 2026: R Beckett, London. R Grey, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. R Harry, Hayle, Cornwall.   C Kilford, Erith, Kent. S Lait, Cullompton, Devon.

Issue 04 2026: A Gerbaldi, Bexhill-On-Sea, East Sussex. T Knowles, St. Ives, Cornwall. D Le Page, Guernsey. W Manning, Wirral, Merseyside.  J Smith, London.

Issue 03 2026: J Bown, Chesterfield, Derbyshire. N Brooks, Swindon. L Harvey, Shipston-On-Stour, Warwickshire. S King, Dover, Kent. K Leslie, Hayle, Cornwall.

Issue 02 2026: S Draycott, St. Albans, Hertfordshire. E Fowler, Nottingham. M Galland, Coventry.            J Shorthouse, Burton-On-Trent, Staffordshire. M St John, Romford.

Issue 01 2026: L Anderson, Liverpool. M Dickinson, Leeds. M Francis, Swansea. A Johnson, Grimsby, North Lincolnshire. B Pottsbyrne, Stoke-On-Trent.

The following competitions are run in Take a Puzzle only.

£2000 Cash

Issue 05 2026: A Leach, Deeside, Clwyd.

Issue 04 2026: C Meadows, Bridgwater, Somerset.

Issue 03 2026: S Clegg, Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire.

Issue 02 2026: P Fisher, King's Lynn, Norfolk.

Issue 01 2026: V Watson, Kettering, Northamptonshire.

£250 Cash & £25 for 10 runners-up

Issue 05 2026: Winner: M Hutton, Coleraine, County Londonderry.
Runners-up: R Ahmed, Harrow, Middlesex. D Bradley, Crewe. C Darch, Bridgewater, Somerset. C Greenaway, Wakefield, West Yorkshire. S Kyson, Norwich. C Purcell, Cardiff. J Robinson, Bridgwater, Somerset. D Simpson, Luton. K Thomas, Cardiff. K Wilkinson, London.

Issue 04 2026: Winner: C Bottomley, Edinburgh
Runners-up: C Adams, Bristol. J Biggins, Huddersfield. H Jenkinson, Halesowen, West Midlands.  C Longley, Wakefield, West Yorkshire. M Metcalfe, Darlington, County Durham. J Rawson, Nottingham. W Shah, Blackburn. J Wilson, Falcarragh, Donegal. M Wood, South Petherton, Somerset. C Woodman, Swadlincote, Derbyshire.

Issue 03 2026: Winner: G Harrison, Derby.
Runners-up: C Bampfield, Tregaron, Dyfed. R Cook, Bristol. L Davies, Southport, Merseyside. E Fitch, Newcastle Upon Tyne. K Hall, Maryport, Cumbria. J Hodler, Carlisle. P Newman, Yeovil, Somerset.  P Pearson, Rowley Regis, West Midlands. M Robinson, Bedford. S Taylor, Jersey.

Issue 02 2026: Winner: L Griffith, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk.
Runners-up: H Bull, Basingstoke, Hampshire. W Bushby, Lewes, East Sussex. J Coles, Bridgwater, Somerset. E Davidson, Craigavon, County Armagh. C Gilmore, Barnsley, South Yorkshire. K Hamilton, Camberley, Surrey. L Jemson, Leyland. V Puodziukaitis, Cannock, Staffordshire. F Sloman, Buxton, Derbyshire. S Thompson, Darlington, County Durham.

Issue 01 2026: Winner: G Barker, Morden, Surrey.
Runners-up: C Adams, Bristol. P Attaway, Worthing, West Sussex. D Batch, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire. G Brundell, Halstead, Essex. S Evans, Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire. L Gorman, Liss, Hampshire. J Hood, Reigate, Surrey. K McGovern, Edenbridge, Kent. S Nicholls, Cwmbran, Gwent. I O’Neill, Workington, Cumbria.

£100 Cash (4 Winners)

Issue 05 2026: A Coley, Eastbourne, East Sussex. J Folland, Umberleigh, Devon. M Heffernan, Peterborough. L Pyper, Bathgate, West Lothian.

Issue 04 2026: K De La Hunty, Huddersfield. R Franklin, Gosport, Hampshire. S Mckenna, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire. K Newby, Middlesbrough, Cleveland.

Issue 03 2026: B Bamber, St. Helens, Merseyside. E Gibson, Leeds. R Heaton, London. L Toogood, Erith, Kent.

Issue 02 2026: E Boden, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire. C Mcloughlin, Glasgow. S Mosson, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. B Payne, Littlehampton, West Sussex.

Issue 01 2026: B Downes, Tenterden, Kent. M Evans, Pwllheli, Gwynedd. C Mason, Mitcheldean, Gloucestershire. C Monks, Manchester.

£500 Cash Prize

Issue 04 2026: Early Summer Puzzle Collection: F Clark, Glasgow

Issue 03 2026: Late Spring Puzzle Collection: TBC

Issue 02 2026: Early Spring Puzzle Collection: C Smith, Clitheroe, Lancs.

Issue 01 2026 Winter Puzzle Collection: S Cross, Winchester, Hampshire.

This competition is run jointly across the following participating titles:

Take a Break Arrowwords Collection, Take a Break Codebreakers, Take a Break Criss Cross Collection, Take a Break Crosswords Collection, Take a Break Hide’n’Seek Wordsearch, Take a Break Picture Arrowwords, Take a Break Puzzle Selection, Take a Break Sudoku, Take a Break Wordsearch, Take a Break Wordsearches Collection, Eclipse Mega Monthly Wordsearch.

Issue 05 2026: Y Baker, Romford

Issue 04 2026: A Wynn, Newbury, Berkshire.

Issue 03 2026: L Graddage, Aberdare, Mid Glamorgan.

Issue 02 2026: E Price, Braintree, Essex.

Issue 01 2026: J Lucy, Stevenage, Hertfordshire.

Closing date for issue 7 is midnight 23 July 2026. Only one entry per person, per issue for our competitions.

Closing date for issue 7 is midnight 30 of July 2026. Only one entry per person, per issue for our competitions.

Closing date for issue 7 is midnight 23 July 2026. Only one entry per person, per issue for our competitions.

Closing date for issue 7 is midnight 23 July 2026. Only one entry per person, per issue for our competitions.

Closing date for issue 7 is midnight 23 July 2026. Only one entry per person, per issue for our competitions.

Closing date for issue 7 is midnight 30 July 2026. Only one entry per person, per issue for our competitions.

Closing date for issue 7 is midnight 30 July 2026. Only one entry per person, per issue for our competitions.

Closing date for issue 8 is midnight 27 August 2026. Only one entry per person, per issue for our competitions.

Closing date for issue 8 is midnight 27 August 2026. Only one entry per person, per issue for our competitions.

Closing date for issue 7 is midnight 30 July 2026. Only one entry per person, per issue for our competitions.

Closing date for issue 7 is midnight 30 July 2026. Only one entry per person, per issue for our competitions.