India Lawrence

There has been all sorts of talk about the death of London’s nightlife. We won’t lie, it’s been sad to hear about the upcoming closures of legendary clubs like Corsica Studios and G-A-Y. However, London’s late-night scene is resilient. It will never die, only evolve. And lets not forget that the Big Smoke is still home to some absolute world-leading clubs where you can go for a proper dance. I’m talking smoke, strobe lights and an absolute stomper of a sound system. I promise you, it’s good for the soul. London’s best clubs at a glance: 🎸Best club for live music: Moth Club 🪩Best intimate club: The Carpet Shop 🏳️‍🌈Best LGBTQ+ club: Dalston Superstore   ⛓️Best techno club: FOLD  💅Best bougie club: The Box Since I moved to London, I’ve been making my way around the city’s many dancefloors, and I like to think that by now I know a thing or two about what separates an average club from a venue which will have you itching to come back week after week. From Sunday day raves at FOLD to secret line-ups at Venue MOT and no-nonsense pop nights at Moth Club, we are home to some absolutely banging nights out in this city. You just need to know where to look. That said, the best thing about going out in London is the sheer variety on offer. You can go to a huge daytime party at Drumsheds with international superstar DJs then head to an underground warehouse party in the Docklands the very same weekend. You can try your best to master Northern Soul footwork, sing your heart out to so

Peckham locals have always been proud of the area’s brand: a melting pot of cultural vibrancy, eccentric individuals, and an artsy, young DIY crowd thanks to nearby Goldsmiths University and Camberwell College of Arts. It rivals Dalston and all those other East End upstarts as the place to hang out, and it’s the perfect spot for new restaurants to find their feet. Here are some of the best in the area, as well as a host of notable places to eat just down the road in Camberwell, too.  RECOMMENDED: The best 50 restaurants in London. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

    While the post-Halloween party hangover might be enough to have you frightened well past Bonfire Night, sometimes what you want for Halloween is to be scared properly silly.   From classic themepark fright nights, to creepy immersive dining experiences, and real-life ghost tours, these frankly terrifying experiences will have you jumping out of your skin, crying for your mum and even questioning your sanity. For the scaredy cats among you, no worries, because there are also a few toned down options in the mix. Think of those as the spooky-lite Halloween events.   So, guys and ghouls, from family-friendly to spine-chilling events that really, really aren’t for the faint hearted, these are the best Halloween events happening across the UK this year.  RECOMMENDED: The most haunted places in the UKThe UK’s spookiest ghost townsEerily beautiful graveyards to visit

September 2025: Our latest update includes everything from udon noodle bowls and South Indian platters to Hong Kong toasted buns, as well as morning mezze and classic croissants. Of course, it wouldn't be a list of the best breakfasts in London without an appearance from Dishoom's bacon naan, so that's here too, as is old school East End hangout E Pellicci - one of the best classic caffs in London.  London's best breakfasts at a glance: 🌯 Best for a burrito: Bad Manners, Shoreditch 😎 Best for celeb-spotting: The Wolseley, Mayfair 🥓 Best for a fry-up: E Pellicci, Bethnal Green 🍛 Best for a South Indian feast: The Tamil Prince, Barnsbury 🍞 Best for Hong Kong-style french toast: Hoko Cafe, Brick Lane Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and luckily for London, the city caters to every possible whim. These days, London isn’t just home to the fry-up, but the ubiquitous smashed avocado on toast, bowls of shakshuka and many more besides. In fact, London genuinely might be the best place to eat breakfast in the world. Whether you’re the kind of person who favours a posh restaurant over a greasy spoon, or who champions a caff over a swanky hotel, we’ve rounded up the ultimate list.  RECOMMENDED: Breakfast’s a little too early for you? Try one of London’s best brunches instead. Leonie Cooper is Time Out London’s Food and Drink Editor. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. The hottest new openings, the tastiest tips, the spiciest reviews: we’re s

Amsterdam is one of the world’s best cities, no doubt about it. Every wander down a cobbled street will take you somewhere exciting, whether you're a foodie, curious about the Red Light District, or in the mood to party for 24 hours straight. And as a tourism capital, it’s no surpise that it’s overrun with exceptional places to stay, from 18th-century canalside mansions to converted bridge keepers’ houses and seriously high-grade establishments.  So if you’re looking for a tip-top place to bed down after a day of exploring the city’s best museums, attractions and coffee shops, you’ve come to the right place. From the city centre through to De Negen Straatjes, here are the best hotels in Amsterdam right now. Updated January 2025: We re-reviewed Amsterdam’s five-star Conservatorium Hotel to see if it’s up-to-scratch (spoiler: it is). See where we ranked it below! RECOMMENDED:🏠 The best Airbnbs in Amsterdam🌳 Where to stay in Amsterdam 📍 The best things to do in Amsterdam🍴 The best restaurants in Amsterdam🎀 The best boutique hotels in Amsterdam Ella Doyle and Grace Beard are Time Out’s travel editors. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by experts. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

Summer is over. And while the remainder of 2025 in London will still see a few great day festivals take place, including Pitchfork and London Jazz Festival, we already can’t wait for festival season 2026.  By the time summer rolls around, Londoners will be absolutley spoilt for choice. With something taking place almost every weekend throughout the warmer months, you can forget trekking across the country to live in a field for five days; simply hop on the tube and before you know it you’re listening to your favourite artists, tinny to hand, knowing that there’s a hot shower and a cosy bed waiting for you once the day is over.  The lineup announcements for next year’s events are already starting to come in, with huge acts like Tyler, The Creator, Lewis Capaldi and Pitbull set to take to the London stage next summer. Plus,the future of events in Brockwell Park was thrown up in the air in 2025, however the south London park’s usual lineup of events – which includes Cross The Tracks, Wide Awake and Field Day – will all return in 2026.  Have a scroll through our comprehensive guide – which we keep meticulously updated with all the latest line-up announcements – and see what takes your fancy. RECOMMENDED: ⛺ The best UK music festivals🌍 The best festivals in Europe

It’s October, which means that things are ramping up on the stage in the run up to the festive season.  It’s looking like an exciting month for ballet and contemporary fans. Dance Umbrella, a huge and varied annual festival of contemporary dance, taking place across the city with performances, workshops and events, returns to the capital this month with groundbreaking artists from around the world. Plus Christopher Wheeldon’s take on the magical realist Mexican novel Like Water for Chocolate is revived for the first time. Meanwhile, English National Ballet is paying homage to the pioneers of modern dance with an exciting quadruple bill.  Here we’ve rounded up the best dance in London this October.  India is in charge of dance listings at Time Out. She was first shoved into a leotard and ballet shoes aged four, and has loved it ever since. Nowadays India prefers contemporary (or dancing in a sweaty club) to ballet, but still has a soft spot for the odd grand jeté every now and again. India has been reviewing dance in London since joining Time Out in 2022.  MORE STAGE: Dance classes in London Best theatre shows this yearBest theatre shows this monthBest comedy shows this month

We know that London is the best city in the world. But like any metropolis, it can also get a bit much sometimes. Occasionally, what you want isn’t to drink cocktails in a trendy bar after seeing the hottest Gen Z bedroom popstar at the Islington Assembly Hall, but a little peace and quiet, actually. Enter: the weekend getaway, invented by the Victorians (probably), there’s a reason why Londoners have been taking sojourns to the seaside on sunny bank holidays since the 1800s.  Together, we’ve come up with a cracking list of our favourite day trip destinations near London. There’s something for everyone here, from historic cities and cute villages to sandy beaches and rolling countryside. We've included some recommendations for ace restaurants, quaint little pubs, and our favourite things to do at each destination on the list – all of which are close enough to the city that you can get there and back in one sweet day.  Best day trips from London at a glance 🍔 Best for foodies: Margate 🎭 Best for culture lovers: Stratford-Upon-Avon ⛪ Best for history buffs: Canterbury 🛁 Best for families: Bath 🐴 Best for hikers: New Forest 🍺 Best for pub crawls: Lewes 🏖️ Best for seaside fun: Brighton RECOMMENDED:✨The best day trips an hour from London👪 The best family day trips from London☀️ The best weekend trips from London🏘️ The best Airbnbs near London🌳 The best quirky Airbnbs in the UK This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial conte

We know that Londoners love to dress in hiking gear: you can’t move in east London without rubbing shoulders with a sentient Arc’teryx jacket, or stomping on a pair of fresh Salomon trainers. But how much of it has ever actually seen a muddy trail? Take your most practical clothes on a trek to remember by going on a big walk, followed by a relaxing sesh in a traditional pub that definitely won't do small plates. Yep, there are plenty of pretty walking routes in London. But there's a lot to be said for escaping the hustle, bustle and ubiquitous Lime bikes by heading out into the true countryside. There are so many stunning bits of scenery to explore, just a short train, car or bus ride from the Big Smoke.  From a bluebell-laden amble through Epping Forest, to a bracing walk along the Seven Sisters cliffs, there’s loads to choose from. So pop on your XT6s and head to one of these wonderful hikes near London. Best walks near London at a glance Best for serious hikers: The Seven Sisters and the Eastern Downs Best for kids: Epping Forest’s Oak Trail Best for easy ambling: The Kentish Coast  Best for picnic spots: Chess Valley in the Chilterns Best for wildlife spotting: Goring Gap and the Thames Path RECOMMENDED: The best walks in and around LondonThe best forests in London for woodland walksThe prettiest walks in London

As the nights turn darker and the air feels cooler, it can only mean one thing: spooky season is upon us. The pumpkins are carved, the costume is finalised, and there’s only one thing left to sort out… a Halloween playlist that goes hard enough to have the afterlife dancing along too. When it comes to Halloween anthems, there are some stone cold classics that have soundtracked the spooky season for decades – we’re looking at you, ‘Thriller’ and ‘Ghostbusters’. But in recent years a new generation of pop ghouls have served up anthems befitting of All Hallows’ Eve. From Olivia Rodrigo’s ex-boyfriend bleeding her dry, to the bewitching melodies of Mother Monster, via the smooth tones of some immaculately styled K-Pop demons. Ironically, Halloween playlists have never felt more alive. Our favourite Halloween songs at a glance: Most iconic Halloween track: ‘Thriller’ by Michael Jackson Best new Halloween anthem: ‘Abracadabra’ by Lady Gaga Most dramatic Halloween song: ‘There Will Be Blood’ by Kim Petras Best Halloween anthem with a K-Pop twist: ‘Your Idol’ by Saja Boys Best Halloween track to dance to: ‘Monster Mash’ by Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett & the Crypt-Kickers RECOMMENDED: 👻 The best Halloween movies of all time 🎤 The best karaoke songs 🎵 The best songs of 2025 so far 🕺 The best albums of 2025 so far

The smog and stress of London can really take its toll on your skin. That’s why there’s nothing better than a regular facial (or a one-off treat) to give you that much-needed top-up, leaving you feeling glowing, fresh-faced and dewy.  Just thinking about what we put our skin through is enough to give you frown lines. That’s thanks to the combined efforts of pollution and air-conditioned offices, as well as the added bonuses of harsh weather, booze, sun exposure, dehydration and – our least favourite – the inevitable passing of time. Happily, there are loads of great spas, treatment rooms and estheticians in London who can give your face a break and a much-needed zhuzh. Whether you’re after a relaxing, soothing facial massage, some instant radiance, a total skincare overhaul or something a little more intense such as microneedling or laser treatment, read our pick of facials in London.  RECOMMENDED: The best spas in London. 

Christmas is on the horizon, and even if you’re not a ballet fanatic, there’s no better time than the festive season to watch watch some unbelievably talented movers leap, pirouette and glide around a stage. After all, you don’t have to be a dance expert to enjoy the sparkly costumes, magical sets and amazing live orchestras that many of these shows come with. So with this in mind, it might be time to start thinking about booking one of London’s fantastic Christmas dance productions. The 2025 season has all the classics in store: there are a whopping three versions of The Nutcracker to choose from; Matthew Bourne will take up his usual winter residence at Sadler’s Wells, this year with the smash-hit The Red Shoes; and the great-for-kids The Snowman will return to the Peacock Theatre. For the tights-and-tutu-averse, there’s a hip hop retelling of A Christmas Carol on at Sadler’s Wells East.  So, read on to discover the best London Christmas dance shows that'll inspire you to leap off the sofa and into the yuletide spirit. RECOMMENDED: Find more Christmas shows in London  See Christmas pantomimes in London.

Known for her surreal and avante garde haute couture creations – often with striking silhouettes, gilded accents, and unusual appliqués – for the first time in the UK an exhibition will be dedicated to the work and legacy of the groundbreaking fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli. The show will trace the origins of the house, from its first, paradigmshifting garments, through to its present-day incarnation in the hands of its creative director Daniel Roseberry, whose contemporary designs worn by the likes of Kylie Jenner and Bella Hadid have seen gowns adorned with faux-taxidermy lion heads, and a lung dress fashioned from a delicate network of golden veins. 

Field Day tried to get back to its roots in 2025 when it up sticks from its more corporate-feeling Victoria Park set up and went to Brockwell Park. It will return to south London on May 23 2026, so get it locked in the diary. Acts are still TBA, but expect many of the best electronic producers and DJs for a day of non-stop dancing.     

All of London’s hottest and hippest people will head to Peckham Rye Park for one of London’s best electronic music bonanzas in May. GALA will return after its hugely successful 10th anniversary event in 2025. Acts are still TBA, but previous years have seen the likes of Caribou, Avalon Emerson and Joy Orbison headline. 

BST will be back again next summer, bringing some of the world’s biggest pop stars to Hyde Park for its 13th edition. Already announced as headliners for 2026 are Lewis Capaldi, Pit Bull and Garth Brooks, with more to be confirmed. Taking place across weekends in June and July, Hyde Park will host an upmarket festival vibe complete with food, drink and a posh VIP area. Here’s all you need to know about the BST Hyde Park’s 2026 edition.  When is BST Hyde Park 2026? As in previous years, BST Hyde Park takes place over several dates in late June and early July. So far, dates have been announced for Saturday, June 27, Friday, July 10, Saturday, July 11 and Sunday, July 12.  How much are tickets? Tickets typically range in price depending on who’s playing and what kind of access you want. The cheapest general admission tickets cost £99.95 plus booking fee, with VIP tickets costing up to £350.95 plus booking fee. Check the website for the full range of tickets and prices. There are also a number of free community events taking place throughout the weeks as part of the BST Open House series. These usually include things like Wimbledon screenings, an outdoor cinema, outdoor theatre shows, DJ sets and gigs. Who’s on the lineup? Country singer Garth Brooks will headline on June 27. This will be his only European performance in 2026. Pitbull will play on July 10, joined by Kesha, and Lewis Capaldi will headline two shows on July 11 and 12. More acts are to be announced in the future. 

Since launching in 2019, Cross the Tracks has firmly made its name for itself as London’s go-to festival for funk, jazz, RnB and hip hop heads. Its groove-heavy curation leads to a laid-back and open-arms atmosphere, which means you’ll find all sorts of people of having a boogie at the one-dayer.  When is Cross the Tracks 2026? Cross the Tracks is taking place in its usual slot on Sunday May 24, in Brockwell Park. How much are tickets? Next year’s ticket prices haven’t been revealed yet, but in 2025 General Admission started at £54.50 + booking fee, while VIP tickets were from £89 + booking fee. What’s the Cross the Tracks 2026 line up? The acts for 2026 are still to be announced, but previous iterations have been headlined by the likes of Michael Kiwanuka, Ezra Collective, BADBADNOTGOOD and En Vogue.  Find more London music festivals here!

To the layperson, high-fashion shows can be a source of confusion. Why would anyone spend thousands on a dress constructed entirely of razor blades, or a pair of decrepit shoes that have been deliberately sullied or even torched? Well, because sometimes creating unwearable garments is actually the point, thank you very much. And that’s exactly what the Barbican’s latest fashion exhibition illustrates.  From the controversial £1,400 Balenciaga destroyed trainers, to Jordanluca’s pee-soaked jeans, and dresses that have been pulled out of bogs, Dirty Looks peers at the muckier side of fashion design. Don’t expect immaculate gowns displayed solemnly in glass cases. This isn’t a historical look at haute couture, or a glossy advert for a fashion house concealed inside a gallery show. The exhibition, featuring more than 120 garments from designers including Maison Margiela, Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood and Issey Miyake, takes a clever thematic approach to the philosophy of dirt within fashion, showing how ideas around industrialisation, colonisation, the body, and waste, can be illustrated on the runway.  One particularly icky room is dedicated to bodily fluids, showing artificially sweat and period-stained garb, others to food stains, pieces made with rubbish and to trompe l’oeil faux-grimy clothing.Stand-out pieces include a torn and muddy lace dress from Alexander McQueen’s controversial ‘Highland Rape’ collection, a creepy Miss Havisham-esque Comme des Garçons anti-weddi

You could say that Marie Antoinette was the original celebrity. The last Queen of France worked with personal stylists, had her barnet done by celebrity hairdressers, and set the agenda for the fashion of the day. She had her own personal brand – an elegant ‘MA’ monogram – which she plastered all over her jewellery, furniture, belongings, and even most intimate toiletries. Like many celebs today, the queen’s dodgy reputation, founded on obscene rumours of debauchery, promiscuity and gorging on cake, was created by tabloid sensationalism. So it’s only fitting that a comprehensive exhibition dedicated to the style of the world’s most fashionable and infamous monarch should be just as fabulous, bold, sparkly and, at times, salacious. Featuring 250 objects, including loans from Versailles that have never been exhibited outside of France before now, Marie Antoinette Style takes visitors on a journey through the ill-fated queen’s forward-thinking wardrobe, dizzyingly elaborate jewellery, lavish interiors, huge hairstyles and enduring influence on fashion and art today. Alongside the myriad guffaw-inducing riches on display (a replica of the most expensive necklace ever made in France is particularly astonishing), mysteries surrounding the queen are confidently dispelled. Did she really say, ‘Let them eat cake’? (No.) Was the coupette glass actually modelled on her breast? (No, but a very realistic porcelain ‘breast bowl’ commissioned by Antoinette is on display.) What appears is a

What is it? The V&A East Storehouse is perhaps London’s best new museum, found in Stratford’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Inside, you will find rows and rows of steel shelves, filled with treasures that make up the V&A’s vast archive, that is now on display for all the see.  Purpose-built to house more than 1,000 archives from the museum’s collection, comprising more than 250,000 objects and 350,000 books, the storehouse promises to offer a peek behind the scenes to show how a working museum goes about cataloguing artefacts, from vintage footie kits and Glastonbury festival ephemera to a collection of samurai swords.  It is a ‘working museum’, meaning it doesn’t have permanent displays (it doesn’t really have proper displays at all, just shelves), and every one of its objects is free to be moved around by the people at work behind the scenes at any time. Why go? This is a genuinely radical new museum offering, and it could just change the way we think about viewing artefacts forever. There are no lengthy gallery texts, instead just library-like barcodes and the odd QR code, meaning it’s all down to your own interpretation. The randomness is part of the fun, and the objects get to speak for themselves.  What’s the deal with the David Bowie Centre? The David Bowie Centre, which opened in 2025, is a massive archive of more than 90,000 objects related to the music icon. It’s free but you need to book. In it there’s a small but high quality exhibition made up on objects from t

The radical work of Indian artist Mrinalini Mukherjee – known for her fantastical and overtly sexual sculptures made from woven fibres – is at the centre of the upcoming RA exhibtion that spans a century of South Asian art. Telling the story of Indian Modernism, more than 100 works comprising sculpture, painting, drawing, textiles, ceramics and printmaking, from a constellation of avant-garde artists, many whom were Mukherjee’s mentors, friends and family, will be on display. 

This new show by mixed media artist Tanoa Sasraku will examine the seductive and destructive nature of oil, and its ties to war and national identity. Through found objects, sculpture, works on paper, and textiles, Sasraku’s stark artworks – which include corporate paper weights infused with crude oil, and drawings of military symbols on paper that will gradually fade away – use emblems and mementos to shine a damning light on the oil industry.   

Vistors will be plunged into Candice Lin’s disorienting world at Whitechapel Gallery this October, as the artist’s new commission inspired by the politcal and cultural upheaval in the USA goes on display. Created in Los Angeles during the the inauguration of Donald Trump’s second presidency, and the LA wildfires, Lin’s hellish and labrythine landscapes – where small creatures stand, and human cadavers emerge from behind shrubberies – evoke the shock, grief and helplessness many Americans feel today in the face of genocide, police brutality and a climate catastrophe. 

Since the early ’80s, British artist Joy Gregory has been a pioneer in contemporary photography. Now, after four decades of work exploring identity, history, race, gender and societal ideals of beauty, her first major show arrives at Whitechapel Gallery. The landmark exhibition will bring together more than 250 works encompassing photography, film, installation and textiles, all of which showcase and celebrate Gregory’s inventive, culturally resonant and materially rich practice.  

Want to do something a bit different for your Christmas lunch this year? How about having it on an opulent old-fashioned train? We’re talking champagne, lavish interiors, fine dining and staff to wait on you hand on foot while you ride from A to B. Because the Northern Belle – dubbed ‘Britain’s poshest train’ – is bringing back its festive Christmas journeys this December.  As one of the world’s most luxurious trains, the Northern Belle was launched by Venice-Simplon Orient Express in 2000 as the UK’s equivalent of the iconic train. A ride on the super deluxe locomotive feels like stepping back in time, with 1930s Pullman-style carriages decked out with luxe wood panelling, plush armchairs and white tablecloths. Photograph: Northern Belle On board, pampered passengers will be plied with champagne and caviar before indulging in a seven-course Christmas feast with wine pairings as they travel through the British countryside. There will be live musicians playing festive tunes, while an on-board magician will keep riders entertained. The old-school steam train will be touring around the UK in December, with ‘Christmas Lunch’ round-trips planned for Norwich, London, Glasgow, Manchester, Hull, Coventry, Edinburgh and more locations. You can see the full list of locations on the Northern Belle website. Tickets cost £395 and are available to book now. Photograph: Northern Belle Birmingham and Manchester could be getting direct train services to Europe.  This British festive fair

East Sussex’s majestic De La Warr Pavilion is about to get even grander, because plans for the modernist masterpiece to receive a £17 million renovation have just been given the green light.  Commissioned in 1935, the Grade I-listed De La Warr Pavilion was the UK’s first modernist building. Designed by Erich Mendelsohn and Serge Chermayeff, the bold concrete and steel structure underwent an £8 million restoration project in 2005. It’s been two decades since then, and the building is in need of some TLC.  Rother District Council has just unanimously granted planning permission and listed building consent for the De La Warr Pavilion Masterplan, which will see the auditorium refurbished and the creation of a new community and learning studio. The pavilion’s balcony will have full accessibility for the first time, while a new bar, shop and toilets will be installed alongside improved cafes and restaurants. The architects – Haworth Tompkins – will also work on the building’s sustainability by improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.  Image: Picture Plane The renovation will be delivered in stages to allow the building to remain partially open throughout the works. Dates for the start and end of the works have not been announced yet. The renovation is funded by the government.  Famous honorary patrons of the pavilion include Eddie Izzard, Anthony Gormley and Queen Camilla. About the renovation, Gormley said: ‘The De La Warr Pavilion is unique. The reborn Pavil

Did you know that Barking and Dagenham (B&D) is home to some seriously cool historic attractions? And we’re not just talking about the former Ford factory.  The borough in London’s far east has got the ancient Barking Abbey, a monastery dating back to the seventh century that’s now a scheduled ancient monument. Then there’s Eastbury Manor House, a gorgeous Grade I–listed Elizabethan gentry house that’s now owned by the National Trust. And Dagenham is also home to Valence House Museum, a Grade II*–listed manor house with a medieval moat.  This is why the east London borough has been chosen to receive a £200 million investment from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, which hopes to unlock the potential of B&D’s heritage, history and attractions. It is the only London borough to be selected as a ‘Heritage Place’ by the charity.  As well as the historical buildings, B&D has connections to pioneering women’s rights advocates including Mary Wollstonecraft, suffragette Annie Huggett, and the Ford Women’s Strikers of 1968, whose campaign ultimately led to the Equal Pay Act of 1970. Plus, the area is known for the post-WWI Becontree Estate, which was once the world’s largest council estate.  The London neighbourhood is one of six new locations in the UK to become part of the Heritage Places initiative. Also receiving National Lottery funding will be Belfast Historic Waterfront, Dudley, Orkney Islands, Tameside and Ynys Môn on the Isle of Anglesey.  Stuart McLeod, director of England –

Marks and Spencer is not stopping on its quest to bring Colin the Caterpillar, Percy Pigs and milk chocolate rounds to more Londoners than ever. Fresh off the opening of new foodhalls in Leytonstone and Oxford Circus, M&S has announced six new and improved stores in the capital before Christmas, including a huge food hall in Covent Garden.  This week (October 17) M&S launched three sites, including the brand-new 5,300-square-foot foodhall on Southampton Street in Covent Garden, alongside the reopening of M&S’s newly transformed Temple Fortune and Wimbledon foodhalls.  Photograph: M&SM&S Wimbledon Quarter renewal Then, in November two brand new M&S stores will open by Clapham Common and on Fulham Broadway. In early December M&S’s renovated Chiswick store will reopen.  The franchised M&S Food at Paddington station is also to undergo a renewal next month but its opening date hasn’t been confirmed yet. The openings are part of a huge £90 million investment from the retailer in the capital announced earlier this year. Thinus Keeve, retail director at M&S, said: ‘We want to be proud of every store we have across the capital and as we reshape for growth, our focus is opening new stores to grow our footprint but also renewing those stores where we can deliver a better shopping experience for our customers.’ Photograph: M&SM&S Temple Fortune renewal Full list of London M&S openings and dates before Christmas 2025 M&S, Wimbledon Quarter – October 13 M&S, Temple Fortune, Barnet – O

If you’re a renter, you’ve probably heard of the ‘30 percent rule’. And if you’re lucky enough to be blissfully unaware of this, it’s a budgeting theory that says your rent should never be more than 30 percent of your income.  In London, where a bog-standard room in a flatshare can easily cost upwards of £1,000, there’s fat chance of the 30 percent rule coming true for most residents.  Now, new research from SpareRoom has revealed exactly how much you would need to earn to comfortably rent a room in the capital. In London the average price of a room is currently £995 per month. According to SpareRoom, Londoners would need to earn a salary of £40,000 or more for their rent to be 30 percent of their gross salary.  However, if you wanted your rent to be 30 percent of your net salary (that’s take-home pay), it would need to be much more than this. Let’s break down the numbers: to pay £995 per month and meet the 30 percent rule, Londoners would need a monthly take-home packet of £3,317, equating to £39,804 per year – that’s after paying tax. To make this number, Londoners would actually need to be earning well over £50,000 a year.  This is well above the median monthly pay for London, which according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) was £2,992 in September 2025, equalling a gross income of £35,900. This means that the majority of London residents will be falling many thousands of pounds behind annually. Ouch.  What is the 30 percent renting rule? The 30 percent rule is

In recent years, flooding has become much more of a problem in London. What’s to thank? Climate change, of course. A new study by insurance company Aviva has now revealed which areas of the capital are most likely to have to be abandoned if flooding continues. Experts in the insurance industry analysed every parliamentary constituency in England, Scotland and Wales to assess how vulnerable they were to flooding. The study said that in the future many locations would be deemed uninsurable if they continue to be pummelled by storms, meaning living there would no longer be an option. According to the study, densely populated areas like London could be some of the worst hit – estuary cities such as the capital could be smacked by a double-whammy of flooding from both rising seas and overflowing rivers.   It’s bad news – and worse yet, the spot set to be the worst affected in all of England, Scotland and Wales is in London. The statistics showed that by 2050 Bermondsey and Old Southwark could see 92 percent of its homes being at risk of flooding.  Out of the top 20 constituencies set to be worst affected by severe weather, seven were in Greater London. Also at risk was Vauxhall and Camberwell Green with 73 percent of properties, Battersea with a risk of 65 percent and Peckham risking 46 percent of its properties.  Don’t panic, because a few solutions have been proposed to save London from turning into the Lost City of Atlantis. Some experts have suggested turning the capital into

From starting out as farmland in the 16th century to becoming London’s epicentre of seediness to today, as a cosmopolitan home to shops, bars and London’s best-known private members clubs, Soho is one of London’s most culturally and historically rich areas. Now a brand-new interactive map of the area allows users to explore its storied history and architecture from the comfort of their own homes. Created by the Soho Neighbourhood Forum, with the help of urban design and research firm Publica and Bahar Durmaz Drinkwater, a Soho resident with a PhD in architecture, the Soho Visual Heritage Map documents Soho’s past through photos – from blue plaques, to historic street signs, and quirky features like the seven noses.  Clicking through the map, users can see photographs of street furniture, architecture, street signage, ghost signs, street art, remnants of the industrial past such as cobbles and cranes, and much more. The map can be filtered, meaning if you only want to see the area’s public toilets (there are two), you can.  Image: The Soho Neighbourhood Forum / Publica / Mapbox The aim of the map isn’t only to create a fun online place to explore the fascinating streets of the neighbourhood, but to preserve its history and inspire future developments to retain Soho’s charm.  ‘The heritage audit will help ensure Soho’s historic built fabric remains a source of pride and celebration for years to come,’ the Soho Neighbourhood Forum said in a statement.  ‘The Neighbourhood Forum

If you said the words ‘Dubai chocolate’ a couple of years ago, most people wouldn’t have a clue what you were talking about. Now, however, it’s a different story. The decadent snack has been having its main character moment for much of the past year, mainly thanks to social media.  Now, the original makers of the viral sweet treat are coming to the UK for the first time, opening an exclusive pop-up at Harrods.  The original choccy bar, called ‘Can’t Get Knafeh of It,’ was created by FIX Chocolatier and has been sold exclusively in the United Arab Emirates since 2022. Inspired by the Arab dessert Knafeh, the bar encases a pistachio, tahini and filo pastry filling inside a block of chocolate.  RECOMMENDED: The best Dubai chocolate in London. Currently, the only way to get get your hands on the bar in the UK is to buy it online and have it shipped directly from the UAE. At the time of writing, a pack of six large bars retails online for around £90.  But soon Londoners will be able to get hold of it right here in the city. The FIX pop-up will be open at Harrods from October 27 to November 23.  So far, those are all the details about the pop-up that have been revealed, but rest assured they will be bringing plenty of Can’t Get Knafeh of It bars to go around.  A fancy Italian-style bakery will open its first ever international location in the West End this week. One of the biggest food halls in Britain is coming to Leicester Square.  Get the latest and greatest from the Big Smoke

Lewisham’s town centre will soon change forever, as the shopping centre built in the 1970s will be knocked down to make way for thousands of new homes. Major plans to demolish the legendary shopping centre and replace it with blocks of flats are set to be approved later this week. The developer, Landsec Lewisham Limited, has applied for permission to bulldoze the mall and multi-storey car park and build towers up to 35 storeys high in its place. Currently, the shopping centre is home to more than 65 outlets, including H&M, M&S and Boots.  Outlined in a 10-year plan, Landsec wants to build 1,744 new homes, of which just 329 (19 percent) will be affordable. Out of the 329 affordable homes, 98 would be for social rent and 231 would be rented at discount rates or to key workers. The remainder would be privately rented. The plans also include new student digs, which would house 661 students in a 23-storey co-living block containing 445 homes.   Landsec also plans to knock down the Riverdale Hall Leisure Box, 72-82 Lewisham High Street (currently a Boots) and the north eastern entrance to the shopping centre. Some shops along Lewisham high street would remain.    Image: Landsec Lewisham The developers have promised to build a new 500-capacity music venue and rooftop wild meadow, and have hinted at the return of the Model Market food court which closed in 2019.  The proposals have received 784 responses from the public, comprising 105 objections, 637 responses in support and 42 ne

Over the years, London has given birth a number of appalling and frankly disgusting things: we’ve had stinkpipes, the great bed bug scare of 2023, and lets not forget about the Whitechapel fatberg.  Now a new totally gross thing has emerged from the capital. Get ready to go ‘ew!’, because it’s been revealed that some London bus routes are absolutely ‘infested’ with cockroaches. And they don’t even pay the fare.  Reports from London’s bus drivers The grisly news came out as London bus drivers reported finding the critters in the seats in a number of routes, with videos and photos shared with London Bus Forums. The unsavoury passengers were found riding on routes 159, 345 and 55. One driver operating the 159 reported finding a cockroach in their drink during a break.  ‘I went to take a sip from my drink and felt something in my mouth,’ the driver said. ‘I spat it out and saw it was a cockroach. I felt sick and ended up vomiting.’ Bus safety campaigners have written to Transport for London (TfL) highlighting the problem. TfL said such instances are rare and has launched an urgent investigation. Kevin Mustafa, a London bus safety campaigner, told the BBC: ‘The current state is untenable for drivers who already face demanding working conditions. Swift, transparent and decisive action will go a long way toward restoring trust, ensuring safety, and maintaining public confidence in London's bus services. ‘London bus drivers are reporting persistent issues with cockroaches and unsanit

Just months after the Odeon Covent Garden shut its doors forever, a new music, film and live performance venue has announced it will be taking over the site on Shaftesbury Avenue.  Calling itself lost, the new spot will be opened by the people behind Secret Cinema. According to the website, lost is a collective ‘that occupies buildings for performance, cinema and nightlife’. It says the former theatre will be transformed into a multi-layered venue focussed on the arts.  Originally opened as the Saville theatre in 1931, the site of the old Odeon once hosted shows by the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix and the Rolling Stones. It was converted into a cinema in 1970 and became an Odeon in 2000. Lost promises to fill the building with ‘music, film and performance once more’.  So far it’s all quite mysterious, with the venue simply saying that doors open ‘soon’. The nightlife spot has also shared a number of teaser posts on its Instagram account.  The lost collective hosted an event with Miley Cyrus in London in June which took place at a secret location. It has also staged cinema screenings showing films from the likes of Wim Wenders, and live gigs from artists such as Reggie Watts.  We’ll update you when we have more information about lost and its opening date. Check out the website and join the mailing list for official updates. Corsica Studios, one of the best clubs in London, will close next year.  East London music venue EartH is getting a 5am licence. Get the latest and

It’s that time of year again: across the city, autumn obsessives are rejoicing in the fact that it’s finally acceptable to watch re-runs of Gilmore Girls, wear knitted jumpers, and start picking out their Halloween costumes. In recent years, Brits have also started to curiously catch on to the American tradition of visiting a pumpkin patch at around the time the leaves start to fall. If you’re not familiar with the concept, this is where you will walk around a quaint farm, probably take some cute pictures for Instagram, and pick your own supersized squash to take home to carve or eat.  If this sounds like your idea of a blast, Time Out has recently named the best pumpkin patches to visit in and around London this autumn.  Crowned as the best pumpkin patch for 2025 was Crockford Bridge Farm, a pick-your-own produce site in Surrey.  ‘The fields at Crockford Bridge Farm are often too muddy for visitors to pick their own in early October (check before you go), but their annual outdoor Pumpkin Market is a much cleaner, still thrilling trip,’ said Time Out editors.  ‘Pumpkins and gourds of every shape, size and colour are piled up on haybales in a display which runs from mid-October until Halloween, or whenever its bountiful crop sells out. Plus, there's family fun galore laid on at the weekend as Hallowe'en approaches, including kids' entertainers and spooky games.’ The farm’s abundance of gourds are available for picking from October 4 to 19, and entrance costs £6 per person.   A