white rabbit travel

Traveling With a Rabbit: Your Complete Guide

Traveling with a rabbit is definitely no small task. Quite a bit of preparation and consideration is needed, especially if you do not have rabbit supplies at the destination.

Choosing a carrier

By far the easiest and safest way to travel with your rabbit in most situations is with an animal carrier. An animal carrier sized for multiple cats or a small dog will work best, although extremely large and small rabbits will require different sizes.

A  19″ carrier  is appropriate for smaller (2-3 lb) pairs or a single medium-sized rabbit. A  24″ carrier  is a comfortable ride for medium-sized (~5 lb) pairs or a single large (7+ lb) rabbits.

Most carriers have a metal grate style door which is simple to hang a water bottle on. We recommend avoiding carriers with a plastic door, as most rabbits will be able to chew out given enough time.

One of the nice features about a carrier is that it is dark and cave-like (for a bunny sense of security) and usually has adequate holes in the side for airflow. You can choose to fit a small litter box inside and either secure a bottle or water crock to the door.

If a litter box will not fit, you may instead cover the entire bottom with litter, a towel, pee pad, or other material to use as padding and soak up urine. Please make sure that the rabbit will not chew and eat the material when unsupervised. You can change the towel during travel breaks if the rabbit soils it.

The report & video does not directly address rabbits, but has very useful information:  “Pet owner alert: Most restraints for pets in cars fail crash tests”  More information:  2015 Carrier Study Results by Center for Pet Safety

Some considerations in choosing a proper carrier

• Ventilation:  It is important to have adequate ventilation in the carrier because rabbits can easily overheat in a warm environment.
• Ease to clean:  Your rabbit will most likely potty in the carrier, so you will want a carrier than can easily be taken apart and wiped down. Plastic carriers are much easier to clean than soft fabric ones.
• Ease of access:  You will need to be able to easily get the rabbit in and out of the carrier. As a result, you may wish to invest in a carrier that you can take the top off and lift them out through. A side door is useful to get the rabbit to hop in on their own.
• Sturdiness:  Carriers need to be made of a material that is chew-proof such as wire and hard plastic. You do not want your rabbit to escape while you are driving or waiting for an appointment. Carriers should also be sturdy and securely latched to not fall apart in the midst of transporting.
• Carrying handle/strap:  The handle should be securely attached and able to handle your rabbit’s weight. Check to see that all hinges are robust. You may wish to invest in a carrier with a strap to help with extra weight if you have multiple rabbits or a large rabbit.
• Size:  Choose a carrier so that your rabbits have enough room to stretch out and sit upright comfortably but  not enough room to slide around in the case you brake suddenly.  You can fit more than one rabbit in a carrier but make sure that it is comfortably sized for both of them.

Either a small rabbit cage or the common cat/dog plastic carrier may also fit these criteria as a suitable travel carrier.

Carriers We Don’t Recommend

Some carrier types we  do not generally recommend  for one reason or the other are the following:

• Wire pet carrier:  While these carriers are chew-proof, rabbits may get their legs stuck in the holes, and the open sides may make them feel unsecure. If you use one of these, cover the bottom with a solid surface like a plastic sheet or a towel, and lightly cover the carrier with a bed sheet while continuing to give sufficient ventilation.
• Soft fabric carrier:  These carriers are easy to store because they fold but are only suitable for extremely short trips. Rabbits can easily chew through the material and escape if they set their mind to it. However, these can be used if you don’t want to advertise the fact that you have a pet and hidden as a gym bag. Throw a towel over it, and no one will know what is underneath.   A lop rabbit that uses an old chewed-up soft carrier as a hiding house during boarding.    A Dutch rabbit that chewed a hole in the side of his soft carrier on the short drive over to boarding.
• Bubble carrier backpacks:  These generally have soft sides that rabbits can easily chew through in minutes. The cheaper versions have very poor ventilation with non-breathable fabric – they can easily cause a greenhouse effect and  heatstroke  in your rabbit in less than 30 minutes.
• Wicker pet basket:  Similar to the soft fabric carrier, rabbits can easily chew through the side in minutes.
• Cardboard carrier:  Like the most of other unsuitable materials, these can be easily chewed through in minutes. Additionally, you will need to make sure they get adequate ventilation through holes punched in the side. These are also not easy to clean if the rabbit soils the bottom.

Some completely unacceptable ways to travel with your bunny are  free-roaming  or on a  halter and leash . It is important to secure your rabbit in the case of sudden starts and stops. A halter and leash do not provide enough security in the case of an accident.

Travel by car

A rabbit can travel quite comfortably in a car, but you will need to work a little bit to keep them happy and cool.

Please make sure your rabbit eats a good full meal with pellets and vegetables within a few hours before you head out on your trip in case your rabbit ends up too stressed to eat during and soon afterwards.

There are two things that are good to keep in mind when traveling with your rabbit in the car. One is the rabbit’s  stress level , and the other is the  temperature  inside the car.

The car is an unfamiliar environment for a bunny and is filled with strange noises and weird smells. The rabbit has no idea why all of a sudden they have been taken out of their normal environment and subjected to a moving vehicle.

Give your rabbit a  cave- and den-like setting  if possible. Generally pairs of rabbits do very well in the car because they have another bunny to cuddle with and take comfort in. If you have a single rabbit, a familiar stuffed animal may make a good companion during the car ride. Please make sure the rabbit does not try to chew and eat the stuffed animal. Try to drive such that you minimize the jostling of the bunny if you can – no sudden stops, jerky acceleration, or sudden lane changes. Keep the volume on the radio moderate, and the windows mostly closed.

When placing the bunny carrier in the car, make sure that it is  secure  and as  level  as possible. The floor behind the passenger seat is the best location and also prevents the entire carrier from sliding. If you place the rabbit on the seat, you can place the seat belt through the handle to secure it in place. Pull the seat belt to the end to lock the seat belt length. Most seats are sloped downwards – you may need to put a towel or blanket on the seat to make it level for a carrier.

Be conscious of the  temperature  in the car. Rabbits can be sensitive to temperature, so if you are traveling in the summer, keep that A/C on, and in the winter, keep the heat running. It may be a good idea to turn the car on 15 minutes before you head out so it can either heat up or cool down before you bring the rabbits on board if the current temperatures are extreme.

For carriers with a  slippery  plastic bottom, place a small rubber mat for grip and overlay with pee pads, towels, shirts, or bedding to soak up any urine during the trip. You can also fill the entire floor with a layer of hay .

Make sure that your rabbit has access to  food and water  for the duration of the car ride if the trip is over a couple of hours. Cold wet vegetables in the carrier would fulfill this requirement if a crock will be too messy and your rabbit does not know how to drink from a water bowl. Some owners fit entire litter boxes with hay inside the carrier for convenience. Any crocks or food and water containers should be secured to the sides of the cage to prevent movement. Check up on your rabbits every time you pull over to make sure they are not overheating and to swap out their towels and bedding if they have been overly soiled.

If your trip is under 8 hours, we would suggest just driving through without any stops unless you plan on taking a break for over an hour in the middle of the trip. Rabbits will often be under too much stress to try to eat during short 30-minute stops. If your rabbit has not eaten at a stop break for over 8 hours, it is a good idea to assist feed some food after checking they are not  bloated  to make sure they have something in their stomach until you stop overnight. It is also a good idea to have a rabbit-savvy  veterinarian  or emergency hospital prepared at your final destination in case of full stasis.

Travel by airplane

Although a less common method of travel, rabbits can be transported by air. However, many airlines do not allow rabbits to fly in the cabin and classify them as rodents (incorrectly) or livestock. We have a complete guide to airlines that accept rabbits .

Airlines and emotional support rabbits

Some airlines that normally would not allow a rabbit to travel in the cabin or charge a pet fee may make an allowance if the rabbit has documentation as an  emotional support animal (ESA)  and is needed by the passenger. Check directly with the airline for their complete rules before booking tickets.

Waffles & Amaretto in economy class as emotional support rabbits on United Airlines in 2015. Select airlines may allow rabbits as ESAs, but regulations may change at any time. Please check for the latest policies before booking. Images used with direct permission from  Kelsey L.

Please note that airlines are never required to accept rabbits on their flights, even if the rabbit is documented as an ESA and the airline allows other types of ESA animals such as dogs and cats. [2]  Additionally, emotional support animals are an US-centric concept. Flights to and from other countries are not subject to ESA rules that may apply to the airline domestically.

General tips

It is not recommended to fly a rabbit in the cargo hold if alternatives are available because it is far safer for you to be able to keep an eye on your rabbit than unattended in another part of the plane. However, many rabbits have traveled safely in live cargo, as it is often temperature and pressure-controlled like the cabin. Going through a  professional animal transportation agency  will also help insure a quality of care as they will have agents to oversee every part of the process. When choosing an airline to use for cargo transport, check their statistics with animal shipping (especially with exotics and zoo animals) and mortality rates – most airlines should have this published.

If you must fly your rabbits as checked baggage during hot weather, arrange the flight so that they will be loaded during the coolest part of the day. Rabbits can easily overheat and suffer from  heat-stroke  if left on the tarmac.

Check out  Rabbit-friendly airlines  for more information about pet-friendly airlines. See  Rabbit-Friendly Transportation Agencies  if you are unable to find an airline that will allow you to transport your rabbit with you.

Traveling by air is stressful for rabbits, and care should be taken to reduce risks. When possible, choose a direct flight which will not only reduce overall travel time but will also reduce pressure changes with layovers. Consider assist feeding some Critical Care and a full meal before the rabbits leave to make sure they are hydrated and have food in the stomach if they end up not eating at all during travel. Do some research about local rabbit-experienced veterinarians at your destination in case of health complications.

Fly with your pet  is a Facebook group that advocates for rabbits to be allowed in the cabin when flying.

Appropriate airline travel carriers

Be sure to check with the airline when booking your flight with your rabbit(s) to figure out what the maximum carrier size is and whether or not you can put multiple rabbits in the same carrier.

Hard carriers that fit within airline guidelines can be extremely difficult to find these days. If you must use a soft carrier, try to find ones that are more sturdy and made with thicker materials to discourage quick escape. When you travel, bring extra chewing toys, towels, and cardboard sheets to use to block and distract your rabbit if they are set on chewing and digging at their carrier.

The following are a few carriers that can be appropriate for cabin travel and placed underneath the seat:

• Petmate Traveler Underseat Carrier : hard, 17″ X 11.75″ X 8″
• Petmate Cabin Kennel Solid Top : hard, 17″ X 12″ X 8″
• Away Travel The Pet Carrier : soft, 18.7″ x 10.8″ x 10.75″
• Diggs Passenger Travel Carrier : soft, 20″ x 10.8″ x 11.5″

Packing for airplane travel

Traveling with a rabbit by air takes some more planning than an ordinary flight. An airline-approved carrier should contain the following:

• Towels or puppy pee pads for accidents if the bottom isn’t a full litter box setup
• Hay, pellets, and vegetables –  Note:  Hay and fresh greens may be prohibited if traveling internationally or to agriculture protected areas such as Hawaiʻi

The following should be packed in either the side pocket of the carrier if it has one or in another carry-on bag:

• Additional food
• Critical care package and feeding syringe
• Extra towels or puppy pee pads

It is also wise to check a bag with additional supplies for when you land. This bag should contain the following:

• Hay, pellets, and other non-perishable food items –  Note:  If you travel internationally, hay may be prohibited.
• Water bottle or bowl
• Litter box and substrates

Flying internationally

Main article:  International Import Regulations for Pet Rabbits

Flying internationally across countries will need a different approach than a flying domestically in a country. You will need to do research for your destination country to see what sort of paperwork, quarantine, and other import regulations you need to follow to have your rabbit safe with you. Additionally, customs will often not allow you to bring hay and fresh greens for your rabbit on the flight. See the main  International Import Regulations for Pet Rabbits  for some detailed country-specific information.

The following are a few airlines that may allow rabbits  in the cabin  on international flights.

If you must fly or ship your rabbit  through cargo , try to use an airline or transportation agency experienced with exotic or zoo animal shipping. We do not recommend flying a rabbit via cargo. The following airlines do offer cargo shipping or rabbits:

• Lufthanasa Cargo
• AIR FRANCE KLM MARTINAIR Cargo

Travel by train

Lilo did great traveling. Here she is on a train in Norway almost home. She traveled from Canada to Norway on 4 flights and a train. Cost: $125USD for United (Calgary-Chicago-Amsterdam) & 40euros ($43USD) for Finnair (Amsterdam-Helsinki-Oslo). Used with direct permission from  M.Wikdahl

Amtrak in the United States only allows cats and small dogs under their current pet policy on trips less than 7 hours.

To petition Amtrak to allow rabbits in the United States and Canada, please send the suggestion  to their support email.

Finding a rabbit-friendly hotel

In the US, the following hotel chains allow rabbits:

• Select  IHG Hotels  (Holiday Inn, Kimpton, etc.)

De-stressing & calming products

The following rabbit-safe herbal products may assist in reducing anxiety in your rabbit for travel if fed beforehand:

• Small Pet Select,  Zen Tranquility Herbal Blend
• The Well Kept Rabbit,  Nervous System Support

Further reading

• Bunny Boy Denali. (2021).  Travelling with a bunny
• Rabbit Rescue Inc.  Travelling
• Ontario Rabbit Education Organization.  Travelling
• Rabbit.org.  FAQ: Vacations and Travel (archived)
• International import regulations for pet rabbits
• Rabbit-friendly airlines

Creative Commons Remixed

We have collaborated with WabbitWiki to provide materials under a CC Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. We are thankful to SneakyDragon and many other WabbitWiki contributors for their freely available abd remixable rabbit education materials.

How to Travel with a Rabbit: 11 Expert Tips & Tricks

• July 2, 2024

Traveling is an exciting time, but it certainly requires some preparation for everyone involved. For pet owners, you not only have to prepare yourself, but you need to get everything in order for your pets, too.

If you plan on taking your rabbit with you during your endeavors, we’ve got you covered. Here are some important tips and tricks to get you well prepped for traveling with your rabbit whether it be a short trip or a lengthy one.

• The 11 Tips for Travelling with a Rabbit
• 1. Pick the Right Carrier

Choosing the right carrier for your rabbit to travel in is essential. Too large of a carrier will put your rabbit at risk of injury if there were to be a sudden stop or even a car accident. Most small cat carriers are appropriately sized for most rabbits but generally, you will want them to be able to lay down comfortably along the length of the carrier and be able to turn around inside.

If you are traveling with more than one rabbit, you will need to get a larger carrier so they can fit comfortably in there together. The carrier needs to have soft padding at the bottom to prevent them from sliding around. You may have to put your own cushion inside if your carrier does not come with anything.

Very few pet carriers are crash tested, but the Center for Pet Safety encourages pet owners to place carriers lengthwise on the floor behind either the passenger or driver’s seat.  This is the safest spot in vehicles for these carriers since most are not designed for the impact of a car accident.

• 2. Introduce Your Rabbit to the Carrier Before Travel

Leading up to your travel date, you will want to introduce your rabbit to their new carrier, so they become comfortable before the stressful trip. Allow your rabbit to have as much access to the carrier as possible in the days before your leave.

Ideally, your rabbit will begin using the carrier as a comfortable place to hide. You can even try luring them into the carrier with their favorite treat, so they have some positive association with it. This will help tremendously in reducing their stress once they are in the vehicle.

• 3. Have the Car at a Comfortable Temperature

Rabbits are extremely sensitive to hot weather and are prone to heat strokes. Before you leave the house with your rabbit, have the car started and at a comfortable temperature before you place them inside. Do not have the air conditioning vents pointed directly at your rabbit, but have them pointed upward so that the air can properly circulate throughout the car.

Never leave your rabbit or any other pet unattended in the car for any reason. Even when temperatures outside are mild, the inside of the car can still get dangerously hot. For example, at 60 degrees Fahrenheit, the inside temperature of the car can still reach over 100 degrees, which can quickly be fatal to rabbits and other pets.

• 4. Have a Passenger Nearby

One way to keep your rabbit comfortable while on the road is to have them close to you or another passenger they are familiar with. You never want to open the carrier while the vehicle is in motion but feel free to open it up and comfort your rabbit when you make any stops.

Just the presence and soft voice of a familiar person can help reduce their stress and make them feel more comfortable. Get a carrier with a window or try positioning it in a way that you can see your rabbit to observe them during the trip and provide comfort as needed.

• 5. Pack All Your Necessary Supplies

Depending on what type of traveling you are doing, you will need to make sure you have all your rabbit necessities. If you are making a quick trip to the veterinarian and back, there’s no need to get stocked up but if you are going on vacation, you will need their usual care supplies so that they can comfortably settle in once you reach your destination.

• Water Bottle
• Cleaning Supplies
• Related Read: Ultimate Checklist for Camping with a Rabbit
• 6. Take an Emergency Kit

In addition to having your usual rabbit supplies ready, it’s a good idea to pack an emergency kit just like you do for the family. If your rabbit were to stop eating or experience gastrointestinal upset or you were to break down alongside the road, experience travel delays, or have anything else unexpected happen, it’s best to be prepared.

• Cooler with ice packs
• Pellet food
• Bottled water
• Fresh greens
• A box of hay
• Heating pad
• Critical care
• 7. Start with Short Rides

If you are prepping for a lengthy road trip with your rabbit, it’s going to be a good idea to have them used to short car rides before you leave on the long drive. Rabbits are highly prone to stress so keeping it as minimal as possible is key.

First, get your rabbit used to their carrier inside your home. Once they’ve established comfort and familiarity with the carrier, try taking them out in the car for quick, short rides to get them accustomed to the noise, vibration, and overall feeling of being in a moving vehicle.

Being trapped in the situation suddenly for a lengthy period will stress them out much more than if they are used to the feeling already.

• 8. Avoid Loud Music

Noise can cause a lot of undue stress for your rabbit, especially in the vehicle where they are already feeling the movement, vibration, and noise of traveling. Keeping the music to a minimum is one way you can help alleviate any additional stress.

If you need to fill the silence of the vehicle, try putting on an audiobook or a podcast while you drive. If you must listen to music, opt for mild genres like classical music, which can have a more calming effect rather than being loud and overwhelming.

• 9. Plan Pit Stops

If you will be on the road for more than a couple of hours during your trip, you will need to plan some pit stops to ensure your rabbit can destress and eat. It is important for their digestion and overall health that rabbits eat continuously throughout the day.

The movement and vibrations of the car may prevent them from eating and drinking entirely, which is why it is so important to plan these stops. Once the noise and vibration are eliminated, it may entice them to eat and drink. Plan for 30 minutes to 1-hour pit stops to allow time for decompressing.

If your rabbit is social and very bonded to you , this would be a good time to securely remove them from the carrier and provide them with love and affection. If you think this may stress them out more, leave them in the comfort of their carrier.

• 10. Keep Watch for Unusual Symptoms

During the car ride and your time away from home, you will want to keep a close eye out for any unusual symptoms that could be related to certain health concerns. The most common illnesses for rabbits to be on the lookout for during travel are GI Stasis and heatstroke .

GI stasis is a potentially life-threatening condition that occurs when the normal movement of the digestive tract is either slowed or stopped completely. This is largely due to diet but can also be caused by stress or inactivity.

• Lack of appetite
• Small droppings
• Not defecating
• Hunched appearance
• Grinding of teeth

Heatstroke 

As we discussed earlier, rabbits are prone to overheating and will be at risk of heatstroke, especially in the car. Heatstroke happens when a rabbit becomes too hot and can no longer regulate its body temperature, which is potentially fatal.

• Drooling or salivating
• Panting and
• Short, shallow breaths
• Lethargy and weakness
• Reddening and warmth of the ears
• Wetness around the nose
• Shaking or trembling
• Fitting or unconsciousness
• 11. Consult a Veterinarian

If you have concerns about traveling with your rabbit, the best thing you can do is reach out to your veterinarian for some advice. They will be able to go over any concerns, talk about what you need to look out for, and may even give you some other useful recommendations for your trip.

If you are traveling out of the area for an extended period, it’s a good idea to look up local veterinarians in the area you will be staying. This gives you peace of mind knowing whom you can contact and get your rabbit to if something were to go wrong with your rabbit during your trip.

• Final Thoughts

Traveling with pets isn’t always easy but it can be much less stressful if you are to be prepared beforehand. If you follow these tips, it will keep you well prepared for traveling with your rabbit and help reduce their stress along the way. We always recommend discussing your plans or travel concerns with your veterinarian to ensure the safest, most stress-free travel.

• https://www.animalhouseofchicago.com/news/rabbits-gi-stasis
• https://www.medivet.co.uk/pet-care/pet-advice/heatstroke-in-rabbits/
• https://www.petmd.com/rabbit/general-health/complete-guide-rabbits
• https://www.petmd.com/rabbit/care/evr_rb_how-to-care-for-your-rabbit
• https://www.centerforpetsafety.org/

Featured Image Credit: KanphotoSS, Shutterstock

Lindsey Lawson

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Follow The White Rabbit With Facts About 'Alice In Wonderland'

Posted: June 28, 2024 | Last updated: June 28, 2024

For many of us, Alice in Wonderland is a beloved cartoon from our childhood. However, the 1951 Disney adaptation was not always so popular. It spurred from a tale written by Lewis Carroll almost a century beforehand. Walt Disney grew up admiring the story and even produced a silent film series about Alice in the '20s. The original story was based on a real little girl and was written per her request. Film adaptations of the book and its series, Through the Looking Glass , have been made since the turn of the 20th century. Continue reading to discover the history of Alice in Wonderland . Did you know these facts about the beloved childhood story?

There Is A Syndrome Named After The Story

According to Neurology , Alice in Wonderland syndrome, abbreviated AWS, is when a person perceives a change in the size of their body that does not exist. Someone may hallucinate that their arm has become enlarged, for example.

There is also an Alice in Wonderland-like syndrome ( A WLS ), where people are unable to correctly perceive the size of objects around them. Both syndromes are very uncommon. However, researchers in a 2014 study were unable to identify the cause of the disease in more than half of the patients studied.

The Author Was Inspired By His Own Disorder

Authors are often inspired by their own life experiences, and the writer of Alice in Wonderland was no exception. According to Whonamedit? Lewis Carroll suffered from severe migraines, which are associated with the symptoms of AWS and AWLS.

Distorted space, time, and body image, in addition to delirium, trancelike states, and more are all related to the disorder that not only was named after Alice in Wonderland , but may have inspired the story. Psychiatrist John Todd coined the disorder in 1955, which is also known as Todd's syndrome.

Read More: This Diver Couldn't Figure Out What A Seal Was Trying To Tell Him

There's A Smaller Version For Toddlers

The original name of the story was Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, which hit shelves in 1865. Amongst its popularity, the title became referred to by its simpler title Alice in Wonderland . Both titles refer to the same book, but the story was retold in a different book years later.

In 1890, Carroll elected to write a shorter, picture book version for kids under the age of five. This was named The Nursery "Alice." Limited to one-syllable words, Carroll simplified the way in which the story was told. It also enlarged and colored the pictures from the original book.

Mock Turtle Soup Is A Real Thing

If you've read the book, you may recall the part where the Queen asks Alice if she's seen the Mock Turtle. She goes on to explain that it's the thing that Mock Turtle Soup is made of. Mock Turtles don't actually exist, but the soup does. In fact, the soup is what inspired the character.

A dish popular during the Victorian Age, Mock Turtle soup was a cheaper rendition of green turtle soup, which was made from actual turtles. The mock version consisted of calf organs that mimicked the taste and texture of the actual turtle.

China Disagreed With Its Human-like Animals

According to Ripley's Believe It Or Not! the Governor of the Hunan Province in China disapproved of talking animals because it puts animals and humans on an even level. The New Tork Times states that General Ho Chien wanted to prevent children from being taught that humans and animals share the same level of complexity.

It's unlikely that China solely feared their children becoming vegetarians. The "disastrous" impact of seeing animals and humans on the same level probably had more to do with the child's self-identity.

This Is Where The March Hare's Name Came From

The character of the March Hare got its name from the saying "mad as a March hare." The saying comes from the strange behavior of rabbits during mating season, which begins in March in Europe. One behavior these hares may exude is jumping vertically for no understood reason.

The phrase is mentioned in a 1528 poem by John Skelton, who was also the tutor of King Henry the VIII. Though the term was exclusive to Europeans, Lewis Carroll's story helped popularize the phrase.

The Story Was Written For Alice Liddell

Alice Liddell was one of ten children born to the Dean of Christ Church in Oxford. The family met Lewis Carroll, whose actual name is Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, while he was photographing the cathedral. He went on to be a close friend of the family.

Six years after meeting, Alice asked Charles to write a story to entertain her and her sisters while they sailed the Thames. Alice loved the story about the girl who falls into the rabbit hole so much, that she asked him to write it down for her. The original manuscript was published as Alice's Adventures Under Ground .

The Story Was Also Influenced By Math

According to BBC, Charles Dodgson, aka Lewis Carroll, was a mathematics professor at Oxford. This may explain the complex geometric allusions throughout the story. Additionally, Alice desperately tries to solve puzzles throughout the story that seem to only confuse her.

For example, the Mad Hatter's riddle and the Queen's croquet game doesn't make any sense and ultimately doesn't offer Alice an answer. A world void of logic may have been a way to escape from the precision that consumes the mind of a mathematician.

Other Real People Were The Basis For Its Characters

While Alice Liddell is the only one whose name appears the same in the book, two of her other sisters may have also influenced characters. The character Lory may have come from Lorina Liddell, while Eaglet may have been based on Edith Liddell.

Lorina, Edith, and Alice were the three sisters present when Lewis Carroll first conceived of the story. It is additionally speculated that the Dodo bird might be Lewis himself because he has a stutter. Meanwhile, some argue that the Queen was Queen Victoria, though she loved the story.

Disney's Version Was Based On Two Alice Books

In 1951, Walt Disney Productions came up with the cartoon Alice in Wonderland that many of us are most familiar with today. However, the movie wasn't only based on Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland , but also its sequel Through The Looking Glass .

One aspect of the movie that is from the book's sequel is the Red Queen, who influenced the Queens of Hearts character that is present in both the first book and the Disney movie. Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum are also characters that only appear in Through The Looking-Glass .

The First Movie Adaptation Was In 1903!

The first Alice in Wonderland film adaptation was a silent film made in 1903. Like the Disney version, this film was also based on both Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass . However, the cast consists of only Alice, Frog, White Rabbit, Queen of Hearts, Mad Hatter, and various playing cards.

The film's runtime was just twelve minutes long. The British Film Institute restored the original film, which cut it down to 9 and a half minutes, and released it in 2010. The film marked a stepping stone in special effects.

Alice Was A Big Deal To Walt Disney

Way before Disney produced the film we know today, he incorporated Alice in Wonderland into a silent short film series called Alice Comedies . The 1920s series consisted of 57 films that started four different actresses as Alice.

The series placed a live-action actress into a cartoon setting. This was the foundation for Disney's later films, such as Mary Poppins, which marry animation and live-action to create a new kind of believability. Given that Disney was a fan of the story from his own childhood, it isn't a surprise that he spent so much time adapting it.

Paramount Beat Disney To The Punch

In the 1930s, before Disney made Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs , he considered doing a live-action, animation hybrid of Alice in Wonderland as a movie. The film went through several scripts before finally landing on the one that would become the 1951 classic.

However, the film Disney ultimately put together did not incorporate live-action at all and was strictly animated. The choice was made after Paramount Pictures came out with their 1933 Alice in Wonderland film, which was primarily live-action, but did incorporate animation during the Walrus and The Carpenter scene.

It Took Decades For The Production To Begin

As mentioned previously, Disney had considered an Alice in Wonderland movie since the 1930s. So why did it take him until 1951 to put the movie out? One reason for the delay is that Paramount Studios had the rights to the story until 1947.

Regardless, Disney began recruiting members to brainstorm script and animation ideas back in 1938. However, he was dissatisfied with the results and postponed production again due to WWII. The story was revisited with a new staff in 1947, who made the story funnier, easier to animate, and full of more music.

The Particular Voice Of Alice

Walt Disney auditioned more than 200 actresses for the voice of Alice. Ultimately, he chose the same young girl who would go on to play the voice of Wendy in Peter Pan: Kathryn Beaumont. He admired her for her role in On An Island With You and for her pleasant voice.

Kathryn has said that Walt believed her voice would appeal to both American and British audiences. She was only ten years old during production, so she had to have a teacher on set.

The Actors Actually Acted Out The Scenes

The actors hired to play the voices of Disney's Alice in Wonderland would also get dressed up in costumes and act out their scenes on sound stages. The stages would even incorporate props and simplistic set designs.

The performances would be filmed and shown to the animators as a reference when the movie was being drawn. This was a common way to animate before the days of CGI and explains why the face of Alice and Wendy looks similar (they are both based on actress Kathryn Beaumont).

The 1951 Film Was A Huge Production

Alice in Wonderland has the largest cast of animated characters in Disney films. It was also the first of his films to list the voice actors in the onscreen credits. Once production officially began in 1946, it took five years to wrap up due to the sound stage performances.

Only fourteen of the thirty songs written for the films made it to the final cut. Nevertheless, it still is the highest number of songs in a Disney feature. The movie consisted of more than 300,000 drawings and paintings, done by 750 artists.

The Disney Film Was Almost A Failure

Disney's Alice in Wonderland had not one, not two, but FIVE directors that Walt hired. He assigned each to their own part of the story with the intent of creating competition amongst the directors. Evidently, Walt liked competition as he produced Cinderella at the same time and encouraged each production team to try to finish faster than the other.

The various directors are one reason that some critics believe the film was a box-office flop. Audiences felt that the film lacked consistency. The success of Cinderella prevented Disney from having to file for bankruptcy due to Alice in Wonderland 's failure.

Television Saved The Day

Despite its negative feedback in the theaters, Alice in Wonderland still earned a nomination for Best Music at the Academy Awards. Additionally, the emergence of television turned this box office disaster into a national success.

Millions watched the film once Walt Disney aired it on the television program the Wonderful World of Color. A year later, Disney further popularized the film by adding the famous Mad Tea Party ride at Disneyland, an attraction that now exists at every Disney Theme Park around the world.

How Alice In Wonderland Withstood The Test Of Time

Though it's initial release lacked in success, the film was re-released in the 1970s. The film became a hit thanks to the psychedelic culture of the hippie era. By 1974, it was the top requested Disney film rental.

More than half a century after her initial role as Alice, Kathryn Beaumont again voiced the character for the videogame Kingdom Hearts. The film's exceptional number of characters and advances in color vibrancy may be what attracted Tim Burton to a modern re-telling. He re-envisioned the story in 2010 for Disney before moving on to other projects.

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Samara city, Russia

The capital city of Samara oblast .

Samara - Overview

Samara is one of the largest cities in Russia located in the middle reaches of the Volga River, the administrative center of Samara Oblast. It is a major economic, transport, scientific, educational, and cultural center.

The population of Samara is about 1,137,000 (2022), the area - 541 sq. km.

The phone code - +7 846, the postal codes - 443000-443904.

Samara city flag

Samara city coat of arms.

Samara city map, Russia

Samara city latest news and posts from our blog:.

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4 April, 2019 / Cities of Russia at Night - the Views from Space .

26 January, 2018 / Samara - the view from above .

4 December, 2017 / Stadiums and Matches of the World Cup 2018 in Russia .

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History of Samara

Foundation of samara.

For the first time, the name of the Samara River was mentioned in the notes of the secretary of the Arab embassy and traveler Ahmed ibn Fadlan as “Samur” in 921. In 1586, by the decree of Tsar Feodor I Ioannovich, the fortress named “Samarskiy gorodok” (literally “the town of Samara”) was founded on the bank of the Samara River near its confluence with the Volga.

Its main purpose was to control the vast territory of the middle reaches of the Volga and the mouth of the Samara, to protect Russia from the raids of nomads, and to provide a waterway from Kazan to Astrakhan.

During the 17th century, the fortress grew and continued to fortify. In 1688, it was renamed and became the town of Samara. After the devastating fires of 1700 and 1703, a new (so-called “earthen”) fortress was built in Samara in 1704-1706. In the 1740s, Samara became the center of the Orenburg expedition, which founded the towns of Orenburg and Stavropol-on-Volga (present-day Tolyatti).

In 1780, the coat of arms of Samara was approved with the following description: “A wild white goat standing on the grass in a blue field”. The image of the coat of arms exactly repeated the banner of the Samara regiment from the collection of banners of the regiments of the Russian Empire (1729-1730). In 1782, the first site plan for the town’s development was approved.

More Historical Facts…

Samara in the 19th - the first half of the 20th centuries

In 1850, Emperor Nicholas I issued a decree on the creation of the Samara Governorate with the center in Samara. The population of the town was about 15 thousand people. By the end of the 19th century, it increased to 90 thousand people. By 1916, about 150 thousand people lived in Samara.

During this period, the Samara Governorate ranked first in the Russian Empire in terms of the amount of harvested wheat. In 1874, the construction of the Orenburg Railway began. In 1877, it passed through Samara. The Samara pier was one of the best on the Volga River. In 1915, the first electric tram started operating.

In 1928, Samara became the center of Middle Volga Oblast. In 1929, it was transformed into Middle Volga Krai. In 1935, the region was renamed Kuybyshev Krai. In December 1936, after secession from the region of the Mordovian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, it was transformed into Kuybyshev Oblast. On January 27, 1935, Samara was renamed Kuybyshev, in honor of the Soviet statesman and party leader V.V. Kuybyshev (1888-1935).

In July-October 1941, during the Second World War, a number of enterprises from the western regions of the USSR and their personnel with their families were evacuated to this city, as well as The Council of People’s Commissars of the Soviet Union (the highest collegial body of executive and administrative authority), The Supreme Soviet of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (the most authoritative legislative body), diplomatic missions, large cultural institutions (for example, the Bolshoi Theater, Mosfilm). This city became, in fact, the second capital of the USSR after Moscow.

A special underground bunker-residence was built for Stalin, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. However, the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command, the State Defense Committee (the highest authority in the country), and the General Staff of the Red Army remained in Moscow. On March 5, 1942, Shostakovich’s Seventh Leningrad Symphony was completed and performed for the first time in Kuybyshev.

From 1940 to 1945, the level of industrial production in the city increased 5.5 times. The population grew from 400 to 600 thousand people. During the war years, about 28 thousand Il-2 and Il-10 attack aircraft were produced at its factories - about 80% of their total number.

Samara in the second half of the 20th century and beyond

After the Second World War, Kuybyshev became one of the largest industrial and cultural centers in the USSR. The city economy was based on the aviation, space, machine-building, metallurgical, electrical, cable, oil refining, and light industries. From 1960 to 1991, because of the large number of military enterprises, Kuibyshev was a city closed to foreigners.

All Soviet and Russian cosmonauts were launched into space on R-7 launch vehicles produced by the Samara enterprise “TsSKB-Progress” (JSC “Space Rocket Centre “Progress”). This also applies to the first cosmonaut of the planet Yuri Gagarin. After landing in the area of the city of Engels, he was taken to Kuybyshev for rest. From here he reported by phone to the head of state N.S. Khrushchev on the successful completion of the first manned space flight in the history of mankind.

In addition to the development of industry, there were significant changes in the socio-economic development of the city. On September 14, 1967, the millionth resident was born in Kuybyshev. In 1968, the TU-154 aircraft began to be mass-produced in Samara. In 1987, the city reached its maximum population of 1,280,000 people.

On January 25, 1991, the historical name Samara was returned to the city. In the 1990s, after the collapse of the USSR, the problem of transforming military enterprises for the production of civilian products arose. A lot of large enterprises went bankrupt. Small-scale production of goods appeared in their place, as well as shopping centers and various cultural institutions (clubs, movie theaters, bars, restaurants, etc.). The loss of jobs, the slowdown in economic growth had a negative impact on the demographic situation and the state of the city’s infrastructure.

In the 2000s, the construction segment was actively developing in Samara. At the same time, there was no general strategy for building the city, which eventually led to a deterioration in the general architectural style of the city and the quality of the infrastructure. In 2018, six matches of the FIFA World Cup were held in Samara.

Samara views

Modern architecture in Samara

Author: Roman Komissarov

Apartment buildings in Samara

Samara cityscape

Author: Dyomin Ivan

Samara - Features

Samara is located on the left bank of the Volga River (Saratov Reservoir) opposite the Samara bend, at the confluence of the Samara (hence the city’s name) and Sok rivers. The City Day of Samara is celebrated on the second weekend of September.

The climate is moderately continental. Summers are hot and rather humid. Winters are moderately frosty, snowy and long. The average temperature in July is plus 23.5 degrees Celsius, in January - minus 9.9 degrees Celsius.

Samara is a major center for mechanical engineering and metalworking, food, as well as space and aviation industries. It is one of the main scientific centers of Russia in the space and aviation fields.

The city is one of the largest transport hubs in Russia, through which the shortest routes from Central and Western Europe to Siberia, Central Asia, and Kazakhstan run. The Kurumoch International Airport located 42 km from Samara offers regular flights to Volgograd, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Krasnodar, Moscow, Nizhnevartovsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Novy Urengoy, Omsk, Perm, St. Petersburg, Sochi, Surgut, Ufa, Dubai, Istanbul, and other cities.

From the pier of the Samara river station, you can go on boat trips along the Volga, cruises to cities located along the river - Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Volgograd, Tolyatti. Passenger transportation in the city is carried out by buses, minibuses, trams, trolleybuses, and the subway.

The architectural heritage of Samara that has survived to this day is one of the richest in Russia. During a walking tour of the historical center of Samara, you can see buildings of the 19th - early 20th centuries preserving the atmosphere of an old merchant city. Samara has one of the longest river embankments in Russia (about 5 km) and the tallest railway station building in Europe (101 meters) with an observation deck (Komsomolskaya Square, 1).

In Samara, the most popular urban legends are associated with underground objects and tunnels through which you can allegedly go under the Volga River and get out on its other bank or on the islands. Rumors about the presence of a network of underground communications are caused by the presence of a large cave within the city limits (The Brothers Greve Cave), as well as a large number of underground structures, such as Stalin’s Bunker, Beria’s Bunker, and the former Army Headquarters bunker.

Main Attractions of Samara

Samara Embankment - one of the most beautiful places in Samara and one of the best embankments in Russia. It stretches along the bank of the Volga for more than 4 km and descends to the river in terraces. A lot of tourists, having arrived in the city, immediately go to the embankment to see the Volga. Residents of Samara also love to come here, breathe clean air and enjoy the picturesque panorama of the great Russian river.

From the nearby pier, ships go on river cruises along the Volga. A river trip is a great opportunity to admire Samara and a good alternative to a bus tour of the city on a hot summer day. City holidays are often held on the embankment.

The embankment of Samara harmoniously combines the advantages of the beach and promenade with places for active recreation and sports. There are cafes and restaurants, benches and fountains, boat and bicycle rentals, paths for cyclists and roller skaters.

There are a lot of interesting art objects on this embankment including a monument to a heating radiator, the sculptural composition “The Barge Haulers on the Volga” and a sculpture of Comrade Sukhov from the famous Soviet movie “White Sun of the Desert”, who was a native of a village near Samara.

Zhigulevskoye Brewery - one of the most visited sights of Samara, which is the birthplace of the famous throughout Russia “Zhigulevskoye” beer. Here you can not only taste original beers, but also go on an excursion and observe the production process.

This brewery located on the bank of the Volga River is one of the oldest in Russia. It was built by the hereditary Austrian brewer Alfred von Vacano in 1881. The building of the brewery is a monument of architecture and an object of cultural heritage of Russia. Volzhskiy Avenue, 4.

Iversky Convent (1860) - a beautiful architectural complex located in the immediate vicinity of Zhigulevskoye Brewery. There are several churches here. You can walk around the territory of the monastery. Volzhskiy Avenue, 1.

Samara Space Museum - one of the youngest museums in the city opened in 2007. It immediately became one of the symbols of Samara. Here you can see a real Soyuz launch vehicle organically integrated into the facade of the museum building. This architectural project has become one of the most original and interesting in Samara.

Actually, the museum is a pedestal on which the rocket stands. Together with the spacecraft, its height reaches 68 m. The exposition is divided into two parts. The first includes space instruments and spacecraft models. The second part is devoted not so much to technology as to people in space, their way of life and everyday activities. Lenin Avenue, 21.

Stalin’s Bunker - one of the alternative locations of the headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the USSR I.V. Stalin, built in Samara at a depth of 37 meters in 1942. Until 1990, it was a classified object. Today, a museum dedicated to the Second World War is open in the bunker.

The object is located under the building of the Academy of Culture and Art, which previously housed the Kuibyshev Regional Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. For the construction of the bunker, the design of the metro station “Aeroport” in Moscow was copied. Frunze Street, 167.

Monuments in Samara

Monument to Soldiers-Internationalists in Samara

Author: Alexandr Strogino

Monument to Sergei Kirov in Samara

Author: Razorenov Roman

Monument to Il-2 attack aircraft in Samara

Author: Nikolay Komarkov

Samara Regional Art Museum . The core of the museum collection is made up of paintings by local artists created at the turn of the 20th century and works by Russian artists of the early 20th century. Today, this museum also has such exhibits as paintings, graphics, works of the Russian avant-garde and Soviet art of the 1920-1970s, paintings by European painters.

In total, the collection has over 35 thousand paintings displayed in five permanent exhibitions. The museum is located in the very center of Samara and occupies one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. Kuybysheva Street, 92.

Samara Children’s Art Gallery . This museum occupies a very picturesque merchant’s mansion that once belonged to Ivan Klodt, an architectural monument of federal significance of the 19th century. Art works created by children, students and graduates of art schools are exhibited here. The gallery also has a museum of everyday life and culture of the late 19th - early 20th centuries and a museum of arts and crafts. Kuybysheva Street, 139.

Mansion of Alexandra Kurlina (Museum of Modernism) . This Art Nouveau house built in 1903 and standing at the intersection of Krasnoarmeyskaya and Frunze Streets is one of the most interesting architectural monuments of Samara. In 2013, a permanent exhibition in three rooms on the ground floor was opened: “study”, “boudoir”, and “dining room”. The exposition presents furniture, clothing, paintings, accessories of European and Russian masters of the early 20th century. In total, the house has 22 rooms, each of which is unique in its own way. Frunze Street, 159.

Roman Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (1902-1906). This neo-Gothic building, unusual for this part of Russia, was built at the expense of the Catholic community of Samara, which consisted mainly of Poles. In 1991, the church was returned to the Catholic community. It was restored and re-consecrated. Today, it also hosts concerts of sacred and classical music. Frunze Street, 157.

House with Elephants (1908-1909) - the former summer residence of the Samara merchant and traveler Konstantin Golovkin, built in the Art Nouveau style on the bank of the Volga, an architectural monument and an object of cultural heritage of Russia. Two full-size sculptures of elephants installed in front of the facade overlooking the Volga gave this building its name. Sovetskoy Armii Street, 292.

Stele “Ladya” (1986) - a monumental white sculptural composition 20 meters high erected to the 400th anniversary of Samara. The monument depicts a stylized old sailing boat floating on the waves. In the middle of the “sail” there is a bas-relief depicting the coat of arms of Samara. This is a popular place for wedding photo sessions, meetings, festivities, and other events. Sofiyskaya Embankment (Lesnaya Street, 23).

Glory Monument (1971). This majestic monument is dedicated to the workers of the Kuybyshev aviation industry, who made a huge contribution to the victory of the USSR in the Second World War. It is a 13-meter figure of a worker standing on a 40-meter pedestal facing the Volga. The worker is holding a stylized aircraft in his raised arms. Sometimes this monument is mistaken for a monument to Yuri Gagarin. Slavy Square.

Leningradskaya Street - a tourist alley in the historic center of Samara with a length of 1.7 km. One of its parts between Galaktionovskaya and Kuybysheva streets is pedestrian. Here you can find mansions of the 19th-20th centuries, shops, boutiques, hotels, etc.

Observation Deck “Vertoletka” (“Helicopter”) . From here, stunning panoramic views of Samara, the Volga River, Zhigulevskie mountains, and the Samara bend open up. The territory is landscaped, there is a restaurant and a summer cafe. Vetvistaya Street, 1.

“The Motor World of Vyacheslav Sheyanov” - a unique museum in Russia, where you can immerse yourself in the living history of the Golden Age of motorcycles (1930-1945). Located near Samara, it has a unique collection of restored motorcycles with an engine capacity of over 750 cubic centimeters produced in Austria, Belgium, Great Britain, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Poland, USSR, USA, France, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Sweden, Japan. In total, there are more than 100 exhibits here. Samara Oblast, Petra Dubrava, Klimova Street, 2b.

Samara city of Russia photos

Pictures of samara.

Bus stop and an entertainment center in Samara

Samara - the view from above

Samara - one of the centers of river cruises

Author: Yuri Gusev

Churches in Samara

Chapel in honor of Metropolitan of Moscow Alexy in Samara

Author: Franz Schiffers

Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Samara

Armenian Apostolic Church in Samara

Author: Anton Starikov

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• Interesting Samara Facts You Should...

Interesting Samara Facts You Should Know

Samara has lit up Russia’s Volga region since Soviet times. Formerly a closed city, Samara was strategic to wartime and space aspirations. Discover the grand plans held for this port city during Soviet times and more, with these fascinating facts about Samara.

Stalin’s secret bunker is buried 37 metres below samara.

Built in 1942, it took almost 50 years for locals to discover Stalin’s hidden underground bunker. The secret hideout is 37 metres below ground, around the depth of a 12-story building. It can hold up to 115 people for up to five days before air supplies run out.

Samara used to be called ‘Kuibyshev’

When the Bolsheviks entered the city in 1918, it marked the start of the city’s Sovietisation. During the Soviet era, the city was renamed after Valerian Kuibyshev, a Bolshevik politician who went on to lead the local Soviet party. The town’s main square retains the name to commemorate this particular epoch of Samara ‘s history.

Pirates used to hide in the Zhiguli Mountains

A day trip out of Samara, the Zhiguli Mountains offer the perfect opportunity to explore the region’s natural beauty. The mountain range used to hide pirates back in the day. Around the ‘Samara Bend’, the naturally occurring hairpin bend just out of the city created a perfect opportunity for pirates to ambush cargo ships and then flee into the cavernous expanse of the mountains.

https://www.instagram.com/p/rOr9K5Fipm/?tagged=zhigulimountains

There’s an asteroid named after Samara

Belgian astronomer Eric Walter Elst was a prolific asteroid spotter, and in his lifetime discovered over 3,000 minor planets. In October 1996, he discovered and named the asteroid 26922 Samara after the Russian city and river.

There is a real rocket as a statue

Outside the Samara Space Museum, a real-life Vostok rocket has been erected to commemorate Samara’s contribution to the Soviet space race. A closed city during Soviet times, space rockets, including Vostoks, were manufactured here. It is the rocket model that catapulted Yuri Gagarin into space, heralding the Soviets as space pioneers.

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Samara is home to the iconic Soviet beer brand, Zhigulevskoye

The Zhiguli Brewery was founded in 1881 and went on to produce the iconic beer of Soviet times, Zhigulevskoye . The brewery had already gained a reputation for producing quality beers before it was seized by the Bolsheviks in 1918. Through the tumultuous Soviet era, the brewery survived food shortages and industrial collectivisation and still produces Zhigulevskoye to this day.

One of the largest squares in the world is found in Samara

At 174,000 square meters, Kuibyshev Square is bigger than London’s Trafalgar Square and Moscow’s Red Square and just under half the size of Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. The Samara Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre is located within the square. Kuibyshev Square is the FIFA World Cup 2018 Fan Fest Zone for Samara.

In WWII, a lot of VIPs from Moscow were moved to Samara, including its soviet football team

During the Second World War, Samara was earmarked to be a new industrial hub. Factories in western Russia were at risk of being seized by the Germans and so the Soviet regime sought to push its important industries into the safer strongholds of cities like Samara. Given its easterly location, Samara, or Kuibyshev as it was called then, would have become the Soviet capital if the Germans had captured Moscow. In addition to moving industries, a number of important politicians, artists and athletes were moved across, including Moscow’s footballers. In 1942, they formed Samara’s local team, Krylya Sovetov FC, otherwise known as ‘Wings of the Soviets’. They are now play in the country’s second division, the Russia Football National League.

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Election latest: Rishi Sunak 'pulls emergency ripcord' by summoning Boris Johnson

Former prime minister Boris Johnson has spoken at his first Tory campaign event of the general election, saying Labour will "destroy so much of what we have achieved".

Tuesday 2 July 2024 23:05, UK

• General Election 2024

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Election week

• Boris Johnson makes surprise first appearance of election campaign
• Sam Coates: Sunak pulls the emergency ripcord
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• 'Enormous increase' in postal votes
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Thank you for joining us on the Politics Hub for the second-to-last day of the general election campaign.

It ended with something of a bang, with Boris Johnson making a surprise appearance on the campaign trail with just one full day left until polls open.

Join us again tomorrow from 6am for live coverage of the last full day of this general election campaign.

We've had some reaction from the Liberal Democrats to Boris Johnson's surprise appearance at a campaign event alongside Boris Johnson.

Referencing Partygate, the scandal that led to the demise of his premiership, the party's deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: "This is an insult to everyone who made heartbreaking sacrifices during the pandemic.

"Rishi Sunak has reached a desperate new low, turning to a man who discredited the office of prime minister and lied to the country time after time.

"It is time to boot out this tired and sleaze-ridden Conservative Party."

Our deputy political editor Sam Coates  describes Boris Johnson's campaign appearance with Rishi Sunak as "a surprise and a gamble".

He says: "Rishi Sunak has pulled the emergency ripcord with one full day of campaigning left to go in this election, and summoned Boris Johnson - his predecessor but one - to front a rally here in central London, just as so many different candidates face disaster in this election."

Sam describes the move as "extraordinary", noting that Mr Sunak helped oust Mr Johnson two years ago.

"Now he is relying on him for an election campaign boost at the 11th hour."

Sam says the crowd "cheered" Mr Johnson and "loved to see him".

But Sam also notes: "He talked about himself, he talked about his 2019 election victory, he talked about his record in government".

The ex-PM also rolled out some of the Tory campaign's attack lines on Labour, but Sam adds: "What he didn't say was just as important.

"He did not lavish praise on his successor, Rishi Sunak, and he did not shake his hand after his appearance."

Rishi Sunak is on his feet at a campaign event in London as the general election campaign enters its final hours.

He thanks Boris Johnson for his support, and says it is "shameful" to suggest Jeremy Corbyn would have made a better a prime minister. 

"Boris was right to say now is the time for all Conservatives to come together to deny Labour that super majority that Keir Starmer craves," he adds. 

"We have 48 hours to save Britain from the danger of a Labour government." 

He says the Conservatives need to "fight for every vote" and he knows that the election result is not a "foregone conclusion". 

"Every single vote matters... we have got to give it one more push," he adds.

He urges people to "get out" and support a number of Tory candidates.

Addressing the Conservatives' record, his says the party has rescued the UK from "Labour's bankruptcy" under David Cameron's leadership, and has delivered the third-fastest growth in the G7. 

He also notes the introduction of the pension triple lock, support for Ukraine, the COVID vaccine rollout, and Brexit. 

But, he acknowledges that people are "hesitant" to support the party. 

"I am not blind to their frustrations with me, with our party. It has been a very difficult few years for our country," he says. 

"We haven't got everything right, we haven't made as much progress in every area as we would have liked, but I would say to everybody that this Thursday is not a by-election. 

"It is a choice about the future of our country, and that choice has severe consequences for your family if you get it wrong." 

He takes aim at Labour's plans for the country, saying it will not tackle illegal immigration, will make the UK "more reliant on foreign energy" and will "raise everyone's taxes". 

"You name it - they will tax it," he adds. "A vote for the Conservatives is a vote for lower taxes." 

He says there will be tax cuts under a Conservative government, which sparks cheers from the crowd. 

"We want Rishi," one person can be heard shouting. 

Mr Sunak concludes by saying he will work "day and night" to deliver for the country. 

"Do not surrender to Labour. Let's get out there and fight for every vote," he says. 

 Boris Johnson has taken to the podium to cheers of "Boris".

He thanks supporters for attending the event "way past Sir Keir Starmer's bedtime."

He tells the crowd: "If you are slightly surprised to see me, I'm going to be absolutely clear that I was glad when Rishi [Sunak] asked me to help - of course I couldn't say no."

"We are here because we love our country," he says.

Mr Johnson adds: "Whatever our differences, they are utterly trivial by comparison with the disaster we may face if these so-called opinion polls are right."

"If these polls are right then at the very moment this country has beaten COVID and at the very moment we should be encouraging enterprise and growth - Westminster is about to go diametrically in the opposite direction," he says.

Mr Johnson says Labour will "destroy so much of what we have achieved".

He adds that "it will be the height of insanity if these polls are right".

"Labour are so cocky and complacent, they are barely concealing their agenda anymore," he says. 

"Whacking up taxes on pensions and property and persecuting private enterprise and attacking private education and private healthcare.

"All the while, Starmer is so terrified of disappointing left-wing dogma he is reluctant to explain the difference between a man and a woman and sits there with his mouth opening and shutting like a stunned mullet."

He concludes by saying: "Vote Conservative on Thursday!"

Watch Mr Johnson's full speech here .

Michael Gove is speaking at a Conservative campaign event in London.

He tells crowds he wants them to vote with "pride".

"Our children are the best readers in the western world and our schools are the best in Europe - this is all down to the Conservative Party," he says.

Mr Gove says "we got Brexit done" and "had the fastest vaccine rollout in the world".

"Let's stand up and say we are proud to be Conservative," he says.

"Let's stand up and say we are proud Rishi Sunak is our prime minister."

He says "at the heart of Rishi is a moral core than cannot be broken".

He adds: "In an uncertain world we cannot take the risk of the alternative."

Mr Gove asks the crowds: "What has Keir Starmer ever done for us?"

"This Corbyn hugging, tax raising, flip flopping apology for a leader should never be allowed anywhere near Number 10," he adds.

"He is the jellyfish of British politics.

"Transparent, spineless and swept away by any incoming tide."

A Conservative Party campaign event is under way in London.

We expect to hear from the prime minister as he fights to, as he puts it, prevent a "Labour supermajority".

Watch live in the stream above, at the link below - and follow updates here in the Politics Hub.

By  Faye Brown , political reporter

Kemi Badenoch and Suella Braverman have denied being associated with website domains purporting to be for future leadership bids.

It comes as a source close to Penny Mordaunt told Sky News she kept her domain active from  the 2022 contests  "for the same reason you'd keep a spare tire in the boot" - and not to mount a challenge against the PM.

With Rishi Sunak widely expected to lose the election on Thursday, there has been mounting speculation about what direction the Conservatives will head in and who could take command.

While Northern Ireland minister Steve Baker has been  open about fancying his chances , other senior Tories are keeping their cards close to their chests.

Over the weekend it emerged a website called kemi4leader.co.uk was registered in April and currently redirects to the Conservative Party homepage.

Business Secretary Ms Badenoch has long been considered a favourite to succeed Mr Sunak on the Conservative right.

However, a source close to her told Sky News the website domain is "nothing to do with her".

Ms Braverman has also told Sky News a website, Suella4leader.co.uk, which redirects to her personal website, has nothing to do with her.

Read more here:

Tonight's poll from Survation suggests Labour are almost certain to outperform the landslide win achieved by Tony Blair in 1997.

It has the party winning 484 seats, with the Tories a distant second on 64 ( see 19.01 post ).

It will likely see Rishi Sunak ramp up his warnings of a Labour "supermajority" even further.

It's a term the Tories have been banding about for weeks - but what does it mean, and why does Mr Sunak think it'll work?

What's the PM getting at?

"Supermajority" is being used by Mr Sunak to refer to the scale of the Labour victory being projected by many pollsters - with some saying they could top the 419 seats won by Tony Blair in 1997.

That gave Labour a majority of 179, but with the Tories tipped to do even worse than they did back then (165 seats), Sir Keir Starmer could end up enjoying the biggest parliamentary advantage on record.

Mr Sunak has said such a "supermajority" would make it harder for the Labour Party to be held to account in the Commons.

Is he right to sound the alarm?

Well, no - because the concept of a supermajority is meaningless in British democracy.

It's a familiar phrase in US politics, where a supermajority of two-thirds really does matter in some votes. 

For example, Congress is required for particularly significant legislation like impeaching a president to hit that two-thirds threshold.

In the UK, a governing party only has to hold more than half of the 650 seats in the Commons, whether that be 326 or much more.

A majority of one could be just as effective as something much bigger - as long as the majority party keeps its MPs in line.

Some have argued the "supermajority" concept isn't without merit, for example in referendums, but it's certainly not relevant to this election despite the Tories' best efforts to make it so.

Whether it's healthy for parliament to be as dominated by one party as it could be from 5 July is another question - but whatever the majority Labour might have, there'll be nothing super about it.

The first big moment of election night this Thursday is the exit poll.

It'll provide us with our first major insight into the result.

Our political correspondent Serena Barker-Singh explains all you need to know:

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