The Time Out London blog team

Sometimes Red Bull events feature world-class athletes achieving daring, nearly superhuman feats. Other times they’re just an excuse to watch regular folk fail in beautifully creative ways. The Alexandra Palace soapbox race is very much an example of the latter. In case you’ve somehow missed it, London’s Red Bull Soapbox Race sees groups of wannabe inventors and mechanics get together to create DIY vehicles out of stuff they found in their sheds. They then hop inside of their creations and attempt to ride them all the way down the hill at Ally Pally. On their way, they’ll have to overcome a series of obstacles which will inevitably defeat most competitors. London Red Bull Soapbox Race 2026 date This year’s race will take place on Saturday June 20. The last one was back in 2024, which means the teams have had two full years to create their masterpieces. In the past we’ve seen minivans made of plywood, go-karts designed to look like food, and even a bathtub with wheels rattle down the hill. Expect this year to be no different. Tickets and prices Tickets for the iconic race are already on sale, and you can bag yours here. They cost £23.50 for under 25s and £34.50 for those who’re 26+, while specific wheelchair accessible passes are available. In 2024 tickets sold out, so make sure to get in early to avoid disappointment. Children are welcome, but anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. As well as being able to watch the chaos of the race, Red Bull promises that the...

The Ministry of Sound is entering a brand new era in 2026. Ahead of its 35th year of existence, the legendary club is getting its most significant transformation to date.  The venue’s main room, the Box, will be closed over the next few weeks as it undergoes a huge refurb. It’ll say goodbye to its legendary Martin Audio system and replace it with a sparkling new KV2 sound system, promising a ‘more powerful, immersive and detailed listening experience’.  The makeover will also include rebuilding and lowering the DJ booth into the crowd to allow for more stage formats, such as a 360-degree setup. The booth will be surrounding by an elevated backstage area, which will be able to fit 200 people.  There’s more. The Box is also getting a huge ‘state-of-the-art’ overhead light installation and new video and lighting design by studio Lucid Creates, which has previously created stages and installations for the likes of Glastonbury and Boomtown. Chris Carr, the agency’s founder said that it has ‘leant heavily into industrial textures and forms to inform the overall look of the space - steering away from an overly clean, overly manicured aesthetic’. The outcome, he said, is ‘something that will still feel distinctively “The Box” but in a really interesting and imaginative way’.  Work will be complete by the end of the month, and the Box will be back up and running on January 30 (the venue’s other rooms are still hosting smaller events). Tickets for the reopening weekend, which will...

There’s nothing quite like a good bookshop. That delicious new book smell, shelves stacked with endless beautiful covers and spines, and the lingering possibility that you just might bump into a bumbling Hugh Grant (we can dream). And even better if it’s a pretty location. So, we have some good news for bibliophiles and hopeful romantics – a new book shop and café has opened right next to Hampstead Heath, and it looks ever so charming.  Funny Weather, a bookshop and café, has opened its doors at 31 Grove Terrace in NW5. The yellow-painted store opened just before Christmas on December 22 2025. Inside, it’s stocked with a range of fiction, non-fiction, contemporary and classic books. There are also reading nooks and places to sit with a coffee, or to work. Funny Weather also serves barista coffee and pastries, making it the perfect place to spend a few hours with your nose in a novel.  Photograph: Funny Weather In other London literary news, one London bookshop was named one of the best in the world in December 2025. The independent seller Donlon Books in London fields was crowned as one of Cultured magazine’s top bookshops on the planet. Founded in 2008, the Broadway Market store is known for its idiosyncratic selection of books and magazines covering counterculture, art, photography, music and fashion, many of which are rare and sourced directly from indie publishers and individual creators.  And if that isn’t enough inspiration to get you to pick up a book in 2026,...